Tribal journalists passing through different "Challenges" while reporting,Rahimullah Yusufzai

LANDIKOTAL: Tribal journalists face with enormous threats from all stakeholders while passing through their obligations, was the theme of the day in which tribal journalists highlighted the challenges that they face while reporting from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) at a roundtable in Peshawar.

The ‘Dialogue on State of Media in Fata’ was arranged by the Intermedia, which has been organising training courses for journalists all over Pakistan to develop and improve their professional skills. Journalists from all seven tribal agencies and some Frontier Regions attended the dialogue. Senior Peshawar journalists were also invited to share their experiences with the tribal reporters.

The participants pointed out how tribal journalists faced threats and pressure both from the militants and the military. They recalled that six tribal journalists including Amir Nawab Wazir and Allah Noor from South Waziristan, Hayatullah Khan from North Waziristan, Dr Noor Hakim and Ibrahim Jan from Bajaur and Naseer Afridi from Darra Adamkhel had been martyred while performing their professional duty. They explained that many other tribal journalists were wounded, had their houses damaged due to violence in tribal areas or had to leave the tribal agencies due to insecurity. Complaints were also made that the families of the slain and injured journalists weren’t compensated and the government or their own media organization failed to protect or compensate. The tribal journalists also complained about job insecurity, poor salaries and lack of cooperation by almost all sides to the conflicts in Fata.

Aurangzeb Afridi, general secretary, Tribal Union of Journalists (TUJ), in his presentation highlighted most of the abovementioned issues. He presented seven proposals for improving the lot of tribal journalists. It included provision of compensation for the six tribal journalists who died due to conflict in NWFP or suffered injuries, or were rendered shelterless and jobless.

Aurangzeb Afridi proposed setting up a journalist victims fund by private media organizations to help those who die or suffer injury and disability while performing duty. He said a similar fund established by the government should start assisting deserving journalists including those in tribal areas. He also called for arranging more training courses and workshops for tribal journalists to improve their skills.

Senior journalist Rahimullah Yusufzai moderated the interactive dialogue. Later, he gave away a computer set to TUJ President Nasir Mohmand. The computer was donated by the Intermedia to the TUJ