The Parliamentarians Commission for Human Rights (PCHR), in collaboration with Media Matters for Democracy and supported by the European Union, organized a specialized training workshop on Digitization of Threats/Crimes Against Journalists Documentation “Journalist Alert App” on April 8th, 2025 at Islamabad Hotel. The objective of this training was to equip key stakeholders with practical knowledge and skills to effectively utilize digital tools for recording, tracking, and reporting incidents of threats and violence faced by journalists across Pakistan. The event brought together a diverse group of participants including officials from Ministry of Human Rights, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, NCHR, NCSW, PITB, 15 helpline Punjab police officials, National Police Bureau and Cyber Crime Wing of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), along with members of the journalist community and civil society organizations, attended the training. Distinguished dignitaries present at the workshop included Mr. Shafique Chaudhry, Executive Director, PCHR; Mr. Asad Baig, Founder, Media Matters for Democracy, Mr. Afzal Butt, President PFUJ; Mr. Arshad Ansar, President Lahore Press Club, and Mr. Tariq Ali Virk, President, Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ).
Mr. Shafique Chaudhry, Executive Director of the Parliamentarians Commission for Human Rights (PCHR), emphasized the critical importance of ensuring journalist safety as a cornerstone of democratic societies. He pointed out that there is a significant gap in SDG reporting when it comes to documenting threats and acts of violence against journalists. Mr. Chaudhry stressed that safeguarding journalists is not only essential for upholding freedom of expression but also vital for fostering accountability and transparency in governance. During the training session Mr. M. Arslan Hafeez, IT Officer introduced participants to the newly developed digital application designed to document threats and crimes against journalists in Pakistan.
Mr. Afzal Butt, President of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), emphasized that journalist safety remains a pressing concern in Pakistan, where media professionals often face threats, harassment, and violence in the line of duty. He stated that the application will enable the collection and analysis of real-time data on incidents of violence and intimidation against journalists, which is crucial for evidence-based advocacy and informed engagement with policymakers.
