Journalist too have been among the victims of the floods in Pakistan. One journalist has died and the houses of over 200 others have been damaged, according to the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ). The union has appealed to the international community, journalists, human rights organisations and overseas Pakistanis to generously support journalists affected by the floods.
In an appeal, PFUJ said that the people of Pakistan, including a large number of journalists, have been hit by the worst ever floods in the country’s history. Devastating floods, accompanied by torrential rains, have claimed lives of 1,683 people and injured 8,487 persons while 6,374 villages have been destroyed, 81187 cattle have perished, and more than 9,893,817 acres of cultivated land has been affected across the country.
Not only this, the entire population of Pakistan sustaining unbelievable and unbearable economic consequences, shortage of fruits, vegetables and other eatables has been swept by a flood of high prices. Non-availability of various commodities is also affecting livestock besides economically crippling a large population living in the flood-affected areas. Initial reports reveal that more than 20 million people have become homeless and economically ruined by floods. More than 6 million victims need aid for survival.
In such prevailing circumstances, the media persons are more severely affected as they are already underpaid as their salaries were not increased since 1st July 1996 and since then prices of all commodities have gone up from 400 to 600 per cent without any relief from media owners.
PFUJ said a female journalist Asma Anwar of Noshehra died due to the floods. The houses of 213 journalists were completely damaged in Jaffarabad, Naseerabad, Makran, Sakardu, Gilgit, Baltistan, Khaplu, Mehdiabad, Kalam, Swat, Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, Mehdiabad, Swabi, Bajaur, Kohat, Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Malakand, Chitral, Karak, Tank, Dir, Takhtbai, Muzaffargarh, Mianwali, Liyyah, Rajanpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bhakkar, Rahimyar Khan, Rajanpur, Jang, Sargodha,Lodhran, Sargodha, Ghotki, Sukkur, Kashmore, Shikarpur, Larkana, Dadu, Nawabshah, Thatta, Jampur, Karpur, and Sanghar.
According to PFUJ, mediapersons in Pakistan are passing through tough times and are being terrorised by Taliban and other religious fanatics and the floods have further aggravated their miseries. All those mediapersons who were dislocated, affected, killed or injured and whose houses were completely or partially damaged need compensation and rehabilitation.
PFUJ has established a victims fund in Islamabad for which an account titled “Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) Account No. 25574 National Bank of Pakistan, Corporate Branch, Super Market, Islamabad, Pakistan” has been opened.
