The regional Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter of the Pakistan Journalists Safety Coalition (PJSC) resolved to intensify its advocacy efforts to establish legislation protecting journalists, following KP Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi’s commitment to present the issue before the provincial assembly.

On August 12, the PJSC-KP made this decision during a meeting at the Peshawar Press Club, chaired by Chairperson Saiful Islam Safi. Participants discussed the need for legal safeguards for journalists and measures to address impunity in crimes against media personnel.

The meeting was attended by Peshawar Press Club President M. Riaz, Khyber Union of Journalists President Kashifuddin, Freedom Network Executive Director Iqbal Khattak, veteran journalist Shamim Shahid, journalist Farzana Ali, Parliamentary Reporters Association secretary Asghar Ali and Faridullah Khan.

Khattak highlighted previous communications from the PJSC federal chapter, led by senior journalist Hamid Mir, urging the chief minister to address impunity for crimes against journalists. Participants agreed to maintain pressure for journalist safety and justice reforms.

Under the proposed advocacy plan, the Peshawar Press Club and Khyber Union of Journalists, with technical support from Freedom Network, will campaign for legislation based on three principles: prevention, protection and prosecution.

Reflecting on recent data, the Freedom Network’s Q2 Threat Assessment Review Report noted that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is the second-most perilous province for journalists, following Punjab, accounting for 14 percent of the threat cases reported from April to June.

Participants urged the provincial government to turn its commitments into concrete legislative and institutional safeguards and ensure accountability for attacks against journalists.