Peshawar Press Club bombed by jihadi militants

Taliban militants have bombed a journalists’ club, killing  three people. This violent attack on media sends a clear signal that jihadi militants are targeting the heart of Pakistan’s civil society. Will right-wing conspiracy-prone talking heads now finally admit that this jihadi war on Pakistan is real? Will Shahid Masood, Shaheen Sehbai, and Ansar Abbasi finally come to see that the militants are not some figment of the imagination, but ruthless killers? 

I have written before that threats to journalists threaten press freedom, only to have Ahmed Quraishi defend the practice of tarring journalists as spies and unsavory elements. But the brush that paints journalists as enemies is a wide brush, and it easily splatters where you may not have intended. When people like Mr. Quraishi begin accusing fellow journalists, they endager all journalists. Today, sadly, we see what can come of this practice.

The writers on Pakistan Media Watch have great respect for the profession of journalism. We have each written for newspapers ourselves, and we will continue to do so. We offer critiques of the media because we believe Pakistan’s journalists have incredible talent, and we want to see that talent shine on the world’s stage.

Today, though, we are saddened at the loss of our friends and comrades.

With heavy hearts we agree with the words of Amir Haider Khan Hoti, Chief Minister of NWFP, who described the attack as an assault on freedom of the press.

“We salute the media for … exposing militants and their acts against innocent people,” he said, adding that “terrorists are becoming desperate as they know they are losing this war, so they are attacking the media directly.”