International press freedom groups have called for action in the case of a Pakistan journalist who has been missing for one month.
Twentyeight-year-old Sohail Qalander, who works with Pakistan’s second largest Urdu language newspaper Daily Express, disappeared on January 2, near the Khyber Agency tribal area, according to the Pakistan Federation of Union of Journalist (PFUJ).
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) President Christopher Warren described the incident as “a terrible reality in Pakistan that the disappearance of journalists and editors is so often related to their line of work.” He said. “The authorities must do more to curb this terrible trend, which sees so many journalists harmed because of their work, and the IFJ calls for a transparent and independent investigation into Qalander’s disappearance, to ensure he is returned immediately and unharmed.”
“We join our Pakistani colleagues in expressing growing concern about the disappearance of Suhail Qalander and friend Niaz Mohammad, who have been missing now for more than three weeks,” said Joel Simon, Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) Executive Director. “We urge authorities to intensify their efforts to locate these men.”
According to local reports, Qalander may have been targeted for political reasons, and colleagues have reportedly said they believed he may be held covertly in government custody. Qalander’s disappearance comes in the wake of three cases last year, where Pakistani authorities detained three journalists, in separate incidents, without charge for extended periods of time.
“We cannot dismiss the idea that [Qalanader] is in government custody,” Express managing editor Abid Abdullah told CPJ. “We just don’t know. He had no personal issues, no problems with family affairs. His only identity was as a journalist.”
Abdullah said the Express management met local authorities and urged them to step up the investigation into Qalander’s disappearance. Police have detained 30 suspects in relation to the case but no one has been charged, according to Shah Zuman, director of information for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. He said he did not believe Qalander was targeted for reasons related to his journalism. “He is known for his neutrality,” Zuman said.
“It is impossible to say if Qalandar’s disappearance is linked to his work as a journalist, but it raises once again the issue of the protection of citizens, including journalists, in certain parts of the country,” Reporters sans Frontières (RSF) said.
The Daily Express is brought out by Century Publications, and is published from 10 cities– Peshawar, Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Multan, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Raheem Yar Khan and Sukkur. The paper was launched from Peshawar on September 24, 2002 and Qalander appointed its first Resident Editor.
Qalander’s disappearance follows more reports of police brutality, after more than a dozen journalists and camera operators were injured in a clash with police after a hotel bomb blast in Islamabad on January 26. Seven journalists were hospitalised in the lathicharge, and police also damaged camera equipment and tried to confiscate film.
“These recent attacks, and the lack of action in the disappearance of Qalander, indicates Pakistan is sliding further away from a free and open press, and the government must intervene to try and salvage Pakistan’s appalling record of press freedom,’’ Warren.
