Journalism in exile.
By: Dr Mohammad Tamoor Azam
Journalism is considered a profession of nobles because it gives voice to those
who are voiceless. Raising voice for the down trodden ones, reporting human g
rights' abuses, and creating awareness amongst the masses are the hallmarks of
this field. Yet pursuing this as a career is full of adventure, fame and
dangers. Being a journalist means doing many challenging things which ultimately
result in making a name. But this profession is full of problems such as low
wages, lesser job security, meagre resources to fulfill official tasks, no post
retirement benefits and so on. But it also brings many dangers to your life and
limb if you start writing against the powerful segments of society. It includes
both government institutions such as intelligence agencies, police and other
influentials like pressure groups and different cartels. In third world
countries such dangers are greater due to weaken rule of law. Pakistan is no
exception to this phenomenon. History is filled with such examples where many
journalists were threatened, harassed, tortured and even beaten to death in
order to silence their voice. A prominent example is that of a journalist
hailing from Peshawar who has been through such situation for last 8 years. His
basic crime was reporting facts without any fear or favor. He never hesitated to
put his own life at risk in otmurder to cover the human rights abuses, forced
disappearances, drug trafficking, undue interference of intelligence agencies in
the political affairs of the county and above all their alleged involvement in
such activities not permissible by law. This journalist was abducted by such
powerful elements and was subjected to inhuman torture for many months.
Resultantly he had to flee the country to save his life.Being a journalist,
free-thinker and critic, he reported copiously on crimes of the powerful elites
and radical elements, both in Taliban and government. He was badly persecuted by
such elements and was detained for quite long in their torture cells—unreported
and secretly. The severe mental torture he received in that black-hole for so
many months is unfathomable. Such practices are very common in our country, and
especially for those who are non-conformists, defenseless, and who can say ‘NO’
to their high-handedness. He stood for transparency, fair play, and
accountability of those who provide shelter to radicals and facilitate them with
their ill-gotten money and undocumented accounts.He unearthed the nexus between
terrorists and their financers. This mafia has even blocked his passport just to
grill him. Another reason adding to his misery is his harsh stance over the
issue of missing persons. He never hesitates to point finger at the state
institutions who are blamed for such forced disappearances. He always rushed to
the family members of such persons and highlighted their Plight. This created a
bad blood between the state institutions and him which resulted in regular
chasing of him by suspicious elements, recording of his phone calls and
threatening calls from unknown numbers. Due to such state of affairs all his
friends and relatives cut off all his social relations with him. Similarly he
also wrote rigorously against the narcotics dealers. Not only this he questioned
the very role of Anti Narcotics Force which is responsible to eradicate this
menace from the country. This irked the drug traffickers as well. Being forced
to live away from his dear one's, he is facing serious loneliness, mental agony
and helplessness. He is so frightened that when this journalist was contacted
then he agreed to share his story but refused permission to disclose his name
and other whereabouts. Reportedly his younger brother in Pakistan received
telephone calls from people who introduced themselves as representatives of
Pakistani intelligence agencies. They asked for information about him about his
journalist brother.His columns and articles against corrupt officials in
Pakistan are a proof that his life is not safe here.This journalist has been
granted the status of recognized refugee by the UNHCR Malaysia chapter.Nowadays
he is waiting for decision of his fate by the US authorities as his resettlement
case is pending for last 3 years with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services ( USCIS) is a component of the United States Department of Homeland
Security (DHS). The civil society and journalist community requests the UNHCR
and US authorities to approve his resettlement case purely on humanitarian
grounds. If not possible in US then other European countries, Canada, New
Zealand and Australia should come forward as his case is far serious than recent
incident of Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, a Saudi girl who just refused to return to
her country and all the developed world raised their voices for her and finally
it was Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau who came to her rescue by
announcing asylum for her even she was thousands of kilometers away and too
within the shortest span of 9 days. In past we have the case of Malala yousafzai
who after being shot was given refuge in United Kingdom along with her entire
family. But similar treatment was not meted out to other two girls who got
injured beside her. Such countries should realize that the care of this
journalist is far serious than the above two. He is the voice of the poor and
down trodden ones. These states are signatories of United Nations Universal
Declaration of Human rights.UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees,
and European Convention on Human rights so they must honor the human rights of
such a renowned journalist. All the eyes are on UNHCR Malaysia, International
Organisation for Migration IOM, Resettlement Support Center RSC and on all those
countries who champion the cause of freedom of expression, liberty and human
rights. By helping this journalist, the goodwill of such developed countries
will boost in the eyes of poor and oppressed people across the globe.