“Not Just News, Journalism Is Truth-Telling,” Reminds DigiMAP President
News Desk
Islamabad: On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, Sabookh Syed, President of the Digital Media Alliance of Pakistan (DigiMAP), voiced grave concerns about the growing challenges facing journalists in Pakistan and across the globe.
He stressed that journalism is not merely about disseminating information but about “protecting the truth, bearing witness to conscience, and defending the public’s constitutional right to information.”
Citing data from global press freedom organizations, Syed revealed that 2024 was among the deadliest years for journalists, with 124 media workers killed worldwide.
Of these, 85 journalists lost their lives in Israeli bombings in Gaza, while at least six journalists were killed in Pakistan. “These are not just statistics — they are silenced stories that we can no longer hear,” he said.
He noted that many journalists in Pakistan continue to face harassment, financial insecurity, delayed or suspended salaries, and an uncertain professional future, despite the presence of protective legal frameworks such as the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act 2021 at the federal level and the Protection of Journalists Bill in Sindh.
“Laws exist on paper,” Syed stated, “but weak implementation and lack of institutional support have left journalists vulnerable and unsupported.”
Expressing serious concern over growing state pressure on digital media platforms, Syed warned that even online spaces are no longer safe for independent voices. He condemned the Indian government’s recent ban on Pakistani media outlets, calling it “a stark reminder of how dissent is being aggressively silenced in the region.”
In a passionate appeal, Sabookh Syed urged the state, institutions, and the public to recognize press freedom not merely as a constitutional right, but as a pillar of national security and democratic integrity.
“The highest price has been paid by Palestinian journalists. Yet, journalists in Pakistan continue to strive to keep the lamps of truth and constitutional values burning. That is real journalism. That is conscious resistance,” he said.
