Emergency in Pakistan: Crisis Mission Rapid Assessment

IFJ Mission Report: November 2007

Press freedom in Pakistan requires the revocation of two anti-press freedom ordinances implemented by President Pervez Musharraf’s caretaker government since emergency rule was declared on November 3, 2007 and an independent journalist-designed code of ethics, according to the report Emergency in Pakistan: Crisis Mission Rapid Assessment.

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the South Asia Media Solidarity Network (SAMSN) worked with its local affiliate and leading journalists’ organisation in Pakistan, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) to organise an emergency mission in support of Pakistan’s media community from November 19 to 22, 2007 after the status of media freedom in the country began deteriorating significantly. The report released today outlines the key findings of the mission, supported by the Foundation Open Society Institute (Zug).

Led by esteemed journalist and senior editor in Nepal Kanak Mani Dixit, representative from Reporters Sans Frontieres Iqbal Khattak and PFUJ President Huma Ali, the mission team inquired into the threat imposed on the media under emergency rule with a series of discussions in Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore with journalists, media owners, civil society representatives and government officials, resulting in the signing of the Islamabad Declaration.

To read the full report click here