Gwadar: The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) has expressed deep concern over a recent death threat received by Gwadar-based journalist Javed Baloch, highlighting the growing repression of freedom of expression in Balochistan.
Javed Baloch, known for his fearless reporting and commitment to journalistic integrity, has consistently covered issues often ignored by mainstream media, including human rights abuses, environmental degradation and socio-political injustices in the region. His work has given voice to marginalized communities and exposed pressing issues affecting the people of Balochistan.
According to local sources, Mr.Javed Baloch received a threatening phone call from a man identifying himself as “Irfan,” allegedly affiliated with the Pakistan Coast Guards (PCG) and reportedly linked to Pakistan’s intelligence agencies. The threat has raised serious concerns for the safety of the journalist and underscores a troubling trend of harassment and intimidation targeting media professionals in the province.
The BYC emphasized that such threats are direct violations of fundamental rights protected under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Pakistan is a signatory. “These acts are not only dangerous to individual journalists but are part of a wider effort to silence independent journalism in Balochistan”.
The BYC has called on the United Nations Human Rights Council, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and international press freedom organizations including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) to take urgent notice of the threat and intervene to ensure the safety of Javed Baloch.
In their appeal, the BYC also urged national and international organizations working for press freedom and journalist protection to provide immediate support to Javed Baloch and push for systemic changes that guarantee the safety of journalists in conflict-affected areas like Balochistan.
The statement concluded, “Threatening journalists is an attack on truth, transparency and democracy. The safety of those who speak truth to power must be treated as a priority”.
