Pakistan: Journalist Murdered, Press Freedom Under Threat

Pakistani journalist Khalil Jibran was shot dead this week, marking the 6th such killing this year, VOA reported in an article yesterday.

The latest premeditated murder highlights a worsening climate for press freedom in the country.

In response, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) criticized the government for failing to uphold its commitment to media freedom and called for an end to the violence.

Pakistan ranks very low (152nd) on the press freedom index, and journalists say the space for independent reporting is shrinking.

The government is also accused of stifling dissent by considering a national firewall and enacting laws critics say target journalists under the guise of fighting “fake news.”

Jibran’s murder remains unsolved, and many journalists fear similar attacks with little hope for justice.