The bombing that claimed the lives of three individuals, including senior journalist Maulana Siddique Mengal, and wounded eight others in Balochistan province, Pakistan, has sparked concerns about press freedom and security in the region.
Mengal, who served as the president of the Khuzdar Press Club and was associated with the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) party, was targeted by a remote-controlled roadside bomb near Chomrok Chowk in Khuzdar town. The attack occurred on World Press Freedom Day, raising suspicions about its motive.
While Mengal's dual roles as a journalist and a political figure add complexity to the investigation, authorities are yet to ascertain the exact motive behind the attack. Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti has condemned the incident and ordered swift action to apprehend the perpetrators.
The Balochistan Union of Journalists (BUJ) has voiced outrage over Mengal's killing, demanding immediate action from the provincial government to arrest those responsible. This attack adds to the string of terrorist activities that have plagued Balochistan in recent years, underscoring the region's volatile security situation.
Pakistan's ranking of 150 out of 180 countries on the World Press Freedom Index highlights the challenges faced by journalists in the country. According to Freedom Network, at least 53 journalists were murdered in Pakistan between 2012 and 2022, with few convictions secured in these cases, indicating a pervasive culture of impunity.
The attack on Maulana Siddique Mengal underscores the dangers journalists face while carrying out their duties in Pakistan, and it serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to safeguard press freedom and ensure the safety of media professionals.
