PEC Calls for Independent Investigation in Baloch Journalist Cruel Murder
Geneva, 25 May 2025 – The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), a Geneva-based media rights organization, has expressed deep shock over the brutal killing of Baloch journalist Abdul Latif, demanding an impartial and transparent investigation into the incident.
Abdul Latif, 55, was shot dead in front of his wife and children on the morning of 24 May 2025 in Mashkay, a locality in Awaran district of Balochistan, western Pakistan. Latif was a senior journalist associated with the Daily Intekhab and Aaj News, known for his fearless reporting on the complex socio-political dynamics of the troubled province.
Family members and colleagues allege that Latif was assassinated by a state-sponsored militia, accusing the Pakistani security establishment of targeting critical voices amid growing unrest in Balochistan.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Abdul Latif Baloch,” said Blaise Lempen, President of PEC (www.pressemblem.ch). “We call upon Pakistani authorities to initiate an authentic, credible probe into his murder and ensure those responsible are held accountable under the law.”
Lempen added that Latif is the 65th journalist killed worldwide since 1 January 2025, highlighting the dangerous conditions under which many media professionals continue to work.
Allegations of State Violence and Rising Repression
PEC’s South and Southeast Asia representative, Nava Thakuria, revealed that the journalist’s killing followed a series of personal tragedies and alleged human rights violations. According to Thakuria, four members of Latif’s family were abducted and later killed by security forces just weeks before his own assassination — incidents that authorities have yet to acknowledge or investigate.
“Pakistan continues to be a dangerous place for journalists, especially in conflict zones like Balochistan,” said Thakuria. “The government must stop its silence and allow independent investigations to ensure justice and media freedom.”
The Balochistan region remains volatile, with increasing calls for autonomy or independence from the central government. Islamabad has been accused by rights groups of using military and paramilitary forces to suppress dissent and press freedom.
Growing Threats to Media Freedom in Pakistan
The killing of Abdul Latif follows the murder of Sindhi journalist Allah Dino Shar on 11 April 2025 in Khairpur, Sindh province. In 2024 alone, 12 journalists were killed across Pakistan, with many cases remaining unsolved or ignored by authorities.
PEC and other global watchdogs have consistently flagged Pakistan as a high-risk country for journalists, citing a pattern of intimidation, censorship, enforced disappearances, and violence targeting media professionals, particularly in minority and conflict-ridden regions.
Conclusion: A Call for Justice and Press Freedom
The PEC has urged the international community, including the United Nations and global press freedom organizations, to hold Pakistan accountable for violations against journalists and to demand transparent investigations into killings like that of Abdul Latif.
Abdul Latif’s death is not just a personal tragedy — it symbolizes the broader crisis of press freedom in Pakistan, where truth-tellers continue to pay the ultimate price for their courage.
