The Geneva-based global media safety and rights body, Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) demanded justice for Karachi-based Pakistani television scribe Imtiaz Mir, who succumbed to his injuries from a shooting incident in the Malir area.

Imtiaz Mir

Imtiaz (40), who used to present a television show titled ‘Aaj Ki Baat With Imtiaz Mir’ on Metro 1 News, was attacked by a group of gunmen on 21 September. He was admitted in Karachi’s Liaquat National Hospital where he succumbed to the injuries in the early hours of 29 September.

“As Imtiaz Mir hosted television shows covering socio-political issues of the trouble-torn south Asian nation and thus earned enmity from anti-social elements, it’s primary responsibility of the authority to identify the culprits and punish under the law. Sindh province chief minister Syed Murad Ali Shah should take a special interest in speedy investigations into his untimely death,” said PEC president Blaise Lempen.

Imtiaz was the 135th media worker killed across the globe so far this year. Prior to him, Pakistan lost AD Shar, Abdul Latif and Syed Mohammed Shah to assailants since 1 January 2025.

Rajeev Pratap Singh

Earlier, the PEC expressed concern over the mysterious death of journalist Rajeev Pratap Singh and demanded a fair probe into the circumstances that led to his untimely demise. The body of Rajeev (36) was recovered from Uttarkashi locality of Uttarakhand on 28 September. He went missing on 18 September.

Initial reports say Rajeev was riding his car and fell into Bhagirathi river. An alumnus of Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Rajeev used to run a digital platform named ‘Delhi Uttarakhand Live’ covering primarily local and public-interest issues.

The global media watchdog urged Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to take a personal interest in identifying the culprits and punishing them under the law.

Nepal Journalists

Moreover, the PEC also insisted on an impartial probe into the violence perpetuated against media persons in Nepal during a recent unrest (on 8 and 9 September) and urged the interim government in Kathmandu (led by Sushila Karki) to adequately compensate the affected media families and news outlets in the turmoil that resulted in the killing of over 70 people and injuries to over 1500 individuals.

The miscreants targeted mainstream media groups like Kantipur Media Group and Annapurna Media Network.

Five journalists namely Shyam Shrestha, Dipendra Dhungana, Umesh Karki, Barsha Shaha and Shambhu Dangal faced physical assaults while reporting from the ground.

PEC’s south and southeast Asia representative Nava Thakuria informed that Nepal witnessed the killing of journalist Suresh Rajak during a pro-monarchy agitation, prior to the latest uproar, in Kathmandu.

Indian Journalists

Meanwhile, India has lost Mukesh Chandrakar, Raghavendra Vajpayee, Sahadev Dey, Dharmendra Singh Chauhan and Chintakayalu Naresh Kumar to assailants since 1 January.

Bangladesh Journalists

At least four journalists namely Md Asaduzzaman Tuhin, Bibhuranjan Sarkar, Anwar Hossain and Khandaker Shah Alam were killed in Bangladesh.

Filipino Journalists

Two journalists namely Juan Johny Dayang and Erwin Labitad Segovia were assassinated in the Philippines during this period.

2024 Media Deaths

A record number of media workers were killed in 2024, the Press Emblem Campaign said, citing that at least 179 of them lost their lives in 25 countries around the world in 2024.