Abdost Rind
Encyclopedia
Abdost Rind a reporter in Pakistan
, was working for the Daily Eagle, an Urdu-language newspaper in the Turbat
area of Balochistan
, Pakistan
, on February 18, when he became the second journalist killed in Balochistan
in 2011.
has also called for a quick investigation into Rind's murder.
that states that eleven journalists were killed in Pakistan in 2010. In contrast, according to the International News Safety Institute, the International Federation of Journalists reported that fifteen journalists were killed in Pakistan in 2010, out of a total of ninety-seven across the globe. Six of these deaths are reported to have taken place in Balochistan, Pakistan.
Reporters Without Borders also reported that within the thirteen months prior to March 2011, thirteen journalists had been killed in Pakistan. The first two media workers killed in Pakistan in 2011, according to Reporters Without Borders, were Salman Taseer on January 4 and Wali Khan Babar on January 13. UNESCO
has listed that the first two media workers killed in 2011 in Pakistan were Ilyas Nizzar, found on January 5, and Abdost Rind, killed on February 18. The journalists reported by Reporters Without Borders are not listed by UNESCO.
The CIA World Factbook has reported that the Pakistani government often controls and censors the media. Organizations that research censorship in Pakistan
rank Pakistan in the bottom third of countries on freedom of the press
. Reporters Without Borders believes that reporters who report information that the Pakistani government does not agree with or want spread to the masses are often risking their lives. According to information from Reporters Without Borders, reporters in the tribal areas must contend with the Taliban and the Pakistani government. Foreign media is rarely able to make it into the country. Journalists who work in Pakistan are often native to the area where they are working.
Rind's relationship with the Baloch separatist movement, is a possible reason for his murder. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, this group strives to gain regional independence from the Pakistani government. The Economic Times
has stated that Robert Blake, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia
, believes that the Baloch
separatist movement is caused by domestic issues within Pakistan. Activists and journalists associated with this movement, as reported by the Committee to Protect Journalists, are often military targets because of the effects that their political activities have on their journalism pieces.
The International Federation of Journalists
said Rind was the second journalist killed in Balochistan in 2011. Ilyas Nizzar, according to the UNESCO, was the first journalist killed in Balochistan in 2011. Nizzar's body was found in Pidarak on January 5, 2011.
Reporters Without Borders does not list Ilyas Nizzar and Abdost Rind as being the first two Pakistani journalists killed in 2011. Prominent politician and media owner Salman Taseer and journalist Wali Khan Babar
were the first two Pakistanis that Reporters Without Borders listed as being killed in 2011. Abdost Rind was one of the most active reporters in the Turbat region of Balochistan, Pakistan, according to the International News Safety Institute.
, director-general of UNESCO, said, "The killing of Abdos Rind raises further concern over the ability of media workers in Pakistan to exercise the fundamental human right of freedom of expression. All of us depend on free media to engage in informed debate and make responsible choices.”
The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists said, "Authorities in Balochistan must act quickly to investigate Abdost Rind's death, to send a message to those responsible that journalists killers will not go unpunished. The disturbing frequency with which media personnel were attacked and killed in Balochistan for the past many years must end."
Bob Dietz, CPJ's Asia program coordinator, said, "CPJ joins with our Pakistani colleagues in calling for a swift investigation into the shooting death of Abdost Rind. Pakistan's reputation as a country where journalists are killed with impunity is among the worst in the world. To allow Rind's death to go uninvestigated and unprosecuted will only add to that miserable record."
Jacqueline Park, IFJ Asia-Pacific Director, said, "For too long, conflict and the risks for media personnel in Balochistan have gone relatively unnoticed, with most attention focused on the war consuming Pakistan's northern Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province and Tribal Areas. The crisis of media safety compels the global community to immediately step forward with a gesture of solidarity and support for the beleaguered journalists of Balochistan."
The investigation behind Rind's murder has not concluded and no official motive has yet been made public.
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, was working for the Daily Eagle, an Urdu-language newspaper in the Turbat
Turbat
Turbat is a city located in southern Balochistan, a province of Pakistan. The town is the administrative center of Kech District and Turbat Tehsil, the town itself contains one Union council.-About:...
area of Balochistan
Balochistan
Balochistan or Baluchistan is a region which covers parts of Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan. It can also refer to one of several modern and historical territories within that region:...
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, on February 18, when he became the second journalist killed in Balochistan
Balochistan
Balochistan or Baluchistan is a region which covers parts of Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan. It can also refer to one of several modern and historical territories within that region:...
in 2011.
Death
On February 18, 2011, Abdost Rind, a part-time reporter for the Urdu-language newspaper known as the Daily Eagle, was shot four times on his way home from work in the Turbat area of Balochistan, Pakistan. The attackers were unidentified and got away on a motorcycle after Rind was shot. Rind is reported to have died immediately. Rind's family, his father, mother, and brother, believe that his murder was work related and have called for an immediate investigation. The Committee to Protect JournalistsCommittee to Protect Journalists
The Committee to Protect Journalists is an independent nonprofit organisation based in New York City that promotes press freedom and defends the rights of journalists.-History:A group of U.S...
has also called for a quick investigation into Rind's murder.
Context
According to the UN News Centre, Pakistan has become one of the most dangerous, if not the most dangerous, place for journalists to work. This announcement follows the report from Reporters Without BordersReporters Without Borders
Reporters Without Borders is a France-based international non-governmental organization that advocates freedom of the press. It was founded in 1985, by Robert Ménard, Rony Brauman and the journalist Jean-Claude Guillebaud. Jean-François Julliard has served as Secretary General since 2008...
that states that eleven journalists were killed in Pakistan in 2010. In contrast, according to the International News Safety Institute, the International Federation of Journalists reported that fifteen journalists were killed in Pakistan in 2010, out of a total of ninety-seven across the globe. Six of these deaths are reported to have taken place in Balochistan, Pakistan.
Reporters Without Borders also reported that within the thirteen months prior to March 2011, thirteen journalists had been killed in Pakistan. The first two media workers killed in Pakistan in 2011, according to Reporters Without Borders, were Salman Taseer on January 4 and Wali Khan Babar on January 13. UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
has listed that the first two media workers killed in 2011 in Pakistan were Ilyas Nizzar, found on January 5, and Abdost Rind, killed on February 18. The journalists reported by Reporters Without Borders are not listed by UNESCO.
The CIA World Factbook has reported that the Pakistani government often controls and censors the media. Organizations that research censorship in Pakistan
Censorship in Pakistan
The Pakistani Constitution limits Censorship in Pakistan, but allows "reasonable restrictions in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of Pakistan or public order or morality". Press freedom in Pakistan is limited by official censorship that restricts critical reporting and by the high...
rank Pakistan in the bottom third of countries on freedom of the press
Freedom of the press
Freedom of the press or freedom of the media is the freedom of communication and expression through vehicles including various electronic media and published materials...
. Reporters Without Borders believes that reporters who report information that the Pakistani government does not agree with or want spread to the masses are often risking their lives. According to information from Reporters Without Borders, reporters in the tribal areas must contend with the Taliban and the Pakistani government. Foreign media is rarely able to make it into the country. Journalists who work in Pakistan are often native to the area where they are working.
Rind's relationship with the Baloch separatist movement, is a possible reason for his murder. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, this group strives to gain regional independence from the Pakistani government. The Economic Times
The Economic Times
The Economic Times is an English-language Indian daily newspaper published by the Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd.. The Economic Times was started in 1961. It is the most popular and widely read financial daily in India, read by more than 8 lakh people...
has stated that Robert Blake, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia
Central Asia
Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
, believes that the Baloch
Baloch people
The Baloch or Baluch are an ethnic group that belong to the larger Iranian peoples. Baluch people mainly inhabit the Balochistan region and Sistan and Baluchestan Province in the southeast corner of the Iranian plateau in Western Asia....
separatist movement is caused by domestic issues within Pakistan. Activists and journalists associated with this movement, as reported by the Committee to Protect Journalists, are often military targets because of the effects that their political activities have on their journalism pieces.
Impact
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, Pakistan has been the deadliest country for journalists in 2010 and 2011.The International Federation of Journalists
International Federation of Journalists
International Federation of Journalists, IFJ, is a global union federation of journalists' trade unions—the largest in the world. The organization aims to protect and strengthen the rights and freedoms of journalists...
said Rind was the second journalist killed in Balochistan in 2011. Ilyas Nizzar, according to the UNESCO, was the first journalist killed in Balochistan in 2011. Nizzar's body was found in Pidarak on January 5, 2011.
Reporters Without Borders does not list Ilyas Nizzar and Abdost Rind as being the first two Pakistani journalists killed in 2011. Prominent politician and media owner Salman Taseer and journalist Wali Khan Babar
Wali Khan Babar
Wali Khan Babar was a Pakistani journalist working for GEO News who was killed by MQM-A gunmen in the Liaquatabad area of Karachi. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, Babar was the first journalist it had confirmed killed in a work-related death in 2011...
were the first two Pakistanis that Reporters Without Borders listed as being killed in 2011. Abdost Rind was one of the most active reporters in the Turbat region of Balochistan, Pakistan, according to the International News Safety Institute.
Reactions
Irina BokovaIrina Bokova
Irina Georgieva Bokova is a Bulgarian politician, incumbent Directors-General of UNESCO. She was member of the Bulgarian Parliament from the Bulgarian Socialist Party for two terms, minister and deputy minister of foreign affairs in the socialist cabinet of Prime Minister Zhan Videnov, and was...
, director-general of UNESCO, said, "The killing of Abdos Rind raises further concern over the ability of media workers in Pakistan to exercise the fundamental human right of freedom of expression. All of us depend on free media to engage in informed debate and make responsible choices.”
The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists said, "Authorities in Balochistan must act quickly to investigate Abdost Rind's death, to send a message to those responsible that journalists killers will not go unpunished. The disturbing frequency with which media personnel were attacked and killed in Balochistan for the past many years must end."
Bob Dietz, CPJ's Asia program coordinator, said, "CPJ joins with our Pakistani colleagues in calling for a swift investigation into the shooting death of Abdost Rind. Pakistan's reputation as a country where journalists are killed with impunity is among the worst in the world. To allow Rind's death to go uninvestigated and unprosecuted will only add to that miserable record."
Jacqueline Park, IFJ Asia-Pacific Director, said, "For too long, conflict and the risks for media personnel in Balochistan have gone relatively unnoticed, with most attention focused on the war consuming Pakistan's northern Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province and Tribal Areas. The crisis of media safety compels the global community to immediately step forward with a gesture of solidarity and support for the beleaguered journalists of Balochistan."
The investigation behind Rind's murder has not concluded and no official motive has yet been made public.