The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on Friday called on the government to ensure fair and timely compensation for journalists and media workers, as well as to institute mechanisms to protect them from attacks and hold accountable perpetrators of their arbitrary detentions to protect their right to freedom of expression.
The Commission put forward these demands on Friday, which was observed globally as World Press Freedom Day.
In a statement, the HRCP said that journalists and media workers continue to report restrictive working environments and a pervasive culture of self-censorship.
Moreover, the Commission said that journalists continue to be threatened, attacked and forcibly disappeared for their work with alarming frequency.
HRCP said the latest Global Impunity Index ranks Pakistan 11th among countries for impunity in killings of journalists.
"HRCP is further alarmed to learn that prominent journalist Hamid Mir has recently received death threats for his comments online supporting free speech, with little action from state and law enforcement authorities to hold the perpetrators accountable," the statement read.
"Such repressive and abhorrent practices must end."
The commission said that press freedom, as the fourth estate, is vital to the functioning of a healthy democracy.
"The state must demonstrate its commitment to protect press freedom, and uphold the rights to life, job security, free speech and fair wages for all journalists and media workers, particularly those with dissenting views and opinions."