FATA journalists concerned at number of detentions without explanation

The brave journalists of FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas) have worked hard against the odds to continue to bring important stories from an area of conflict and instability despite many obstacles to try to prevent them from doing so.

Back in June 2014, the military launched operation Zarb -e-Asb, egged on by John Brennan, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) determined to see Pakistan eliminate as many insurgents as possible with the continued background support of US Predator drone strikes. From the start it was clear North Waziristan would become a reporting “no go zone” with reliance on ISP reports to update on military progress in the region. Locals had little choice but to move from the area becoming Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at great personal loss and suffering. Occasionally the army would escort a selected group of journalists into the area to film old Taliban headquarters complete with alleged arms stash taken over by the military. Insurgents had mostly vacated for safer areas, to other regions of Pakistan or over the border to Afghanistan having gained advance intelligence of an impending military operation.

Nasruminallah the latest journalist to be detained in a week long “misunderstanding”

Since Zarb-e-Asb began 5 journalists of North Waziristan agency have been arrested by the Security Forces (army). First, Khyber News reporter Noor Behram was detained twice, then Mashaal radio reporter Umer Daraz Wazir was arrested in Bannu and released after one day. After that, Geo News Special Correspondent Rasool Dawar and Khyber News Reporter Yousaf Haroon were arrested in Peshawar and released after 6 hours. Then on the 31st March 2015 during IDP’s return to the area, courageous Express Tribune Reporter Nasruminallah was arrested by “Forces” and is now released after being held for one week according to this journalist’s father, Haji Pazeer Gul.

The Tribal Union Of Journalists (TUJ) held a meeting in Bannu Press Club to discuss their concerns regarding these incidents but media in Pakistan can’t release this news. Here is their statement,

Emergency Meeting

“The problems being faced by the journalists and for their solution the journalists associated with the Tribal Union of Journalists (TUJ) and Bannu Press Club, held an emergency meeting under the leadership of TUJ’s founder Sailaab Mehsud at Bannu press club. In the meeting the arrest at the hands of security forces of North Waziristan journalist and member of Tribal Union of Journalist, Nasruminallah was strongly condemned.  It was decided in the meeting that if the journalist arrested since 31^st March is not released by the concerned departments and the constant harassment of journalists is not stopped then we will raise our voice on national as well as international level. In this regard in the coming few days,  Khyber Pakhtoonkhua and the Tribal Journalists will hold a joint session in Peshawar press club.  Be clear that the arrested North Waziristan journalist, Nasruminallah along with other journalists was going for the coverage of the returning North Waziristan IDPs. Even before the coverage, the security forces arrested him at Said Gai checkpost. It was clarified in the session that no progress was made despite repeated intervention by the members of Tribal Union of Journalists and Bannu Press Club. It was decided in the session that for the release of the arrested journalist Nasruminallah and the problems being faced by other journalists they will approach the Core Commander Peshawar, DGISPR (Director General Interservices Public Relation) and Chief of Army Staff General Rahil Shareef.

Remember that after the continuing operation Zarb-e-Azab in North Waziristan, five (5) journalists from of North Waziristan have so far been arrested off and on.”

What is disturbing is that no reason has been given for detaining these journalists and no answers to their questions. This practice of taking journalists off the street is usually put down to a “misunderstanding” but appears to be a method of control and intimidation to let the press know who is in control.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) report that 56 journalists have been killed in Pakistan since 1992. They are not so well paid and some act as “stringers” for major foreign publications often taking the risks on the ground while others thousands of miles away take most of the credit for stories from the region. Types of death recorded include the following categories, murdered, in crossfire/combat, on dangerous assignment, all deaths. The following CPJ link highlights the dangers for journalists working in Pakistan and specifics on individual cases.

https://cpj.org/killed/asia/pakistan/

Journalists in Pakistan are in a no-win situation. They are not free to report on any subject area and are sometimes accused of bias for not covering key issues. To question or go against any official state press release can put reporters at risk. Perhaps the state fears that the stories put out by independent media may differ from official reports but journalists must be free to question and to write with accuracy and honesty.

It is essential that journalists are allowed into all areas to report. Although the state may argue its too dangerous and they can’t guarantee security, the counter-arguement is that journalists know the risks in a conflict zone, express a wish to report from these areas and may face equal or greater risks reporting in other subject areas, for example gangland killings in major cities. Where possible training on safety and security should be given by their employers if not independent journalists, though some training may still be possible,

It is very difficult to find independent reporting on the progress of military operations or the realities on the ground for returning IDPs. The people of Pakistan have a right to know what is happening in their own country and journalists must be enabled to carry out their work and be protected as far as possible in their endeavours.

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad . She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.