Exclusive Interviews regarding War on Terror with Senior Tribal Journalists, Media Experts

LANDI KOTAL: Taliban and Government threats main obstacle way of independently reporting damaging journalists’ credibility in tribal areas, a survey of tribal journalists conducted by all voices member. Taliban’s dominant power restricts tribal journalists to file electronic and print media reports against insurgencies of banned militant groups. "Therefore mostly seniors’ journalists’ consult with diverse Taliban groups before decide to report the news "a senior tribal journalist said.

The Pakistan intelligence agencies are primary and reliable sources of information for tribal journalists. The journalists ignored local sources regarding war on terror news depend on intelligence report so deep links established between intelligence agencies and tribal journalists told by a senior journalist to all voices member. These journalists forward news report same directed by Pakistan intelligence agencies to their media organizations without editing. The journalist can be charged by ignore the news structure of intelligence officials information added by him. The intelligence officials used to set in their press clubs to guide the tribal journalists regarding the war on terror events happen or to be happened in the future.

Haji Muhammed Wazir Gul resident of North Waziristan reporting for ARY one world and Dawn said, my house was assaulted by rockets, missiles and garnets due to adhered with reporting.

The Samaa Khyber agency correspondent Waheed Afridi explain reporting hardships to all voices member, which received phones from different forces in flow after occur an event by directed him to report the news in their favour, so in these circumstances unable to meet the basic requirements of reporting told by him.

The correspondent of Daily Pakistan Observer was taken in custody by political administrative of Landi Kotal in charge of an interviewed a foreigner arrested on Pak-Afghan border. "The political administrative also arrested and torture me told by him".

Dalawar Khan Wazir BBC Peshawar correspondent told to all voices if the government or Taliban express annoy on a report so journalist become prey by these forces in tribal area. He said, due to lack of their media Organization privileges journalist cannot afford expenditure to cover the event compel to rely on government and Taliban sources doing half reporting in tribal zone. The intelligences agency vanished me due to fair reporting but after two days kept me in custody released me through proper pressure built by BBC officials explained by him.

The South Waziristan Journalist reporting for Khyber news told to all voices FCR, illiteracy, tribal customs and Taliban forces are main hurdles in the field of journalism.

The division of tribal union journalist in two groups intrinsically liberal while other devoted to Taliban affected the unity of tribal journalist launched conspiracy planning against each other. When a story of journalist from one group goes against Taliban, the other group forwarded that story to Taliban concern area commander told by tribal journalist working for international media belongs to liberal tribal journalist group.

Former President of Tribal union of journalist (TUJ) Salab Mehsud said, tribal union of journalists (TUJ) was established in 1987. When TUJ was founded four members were joined later on its strength increase up to now reach to 180 members. The foundation purpose of TUJ was to highlight tribal issues the belt due to political and geographical importance in the globe he added." He further said, five tribal journalists were killed, more than 10 injured and dozens have migrated from tribal areas due to facing critical situations in the area. He had approved various funds for effected tribal journalists’ families and awarded by international media organizations award who have served their valuable life during reporting for their organization" explained by former president.

"Alamgeer Batani reporter to the Voice of America (VOA) Reuter and Dewa radio in FR Tank expressed we are working in so crucial situations just like walking on the straight bridge (Pool- e- Serat) where there is no concession of fault." He said, tribal journalists try their best to reduce destruction by reporting the events.

Geo TV Khyber agency correspondent told, "While file a report could goes in favor and against about any arm group functioning in tribal source of international secret agencies so any time hazards could grip us"

The Inter news international Media Organization provides journalism technical and management training to create citizen empowerment industry in Pakistan. The Internews Manager Media development in Pakistan Mr., Aurang Zaib Khan working to improve and develop journalism in NWFP, Balochistan, tribal areas and Azad Kashmir’s regions in Pakistan told to all voices time by time 50 TUJ members train by their organization to improve the standard of journalism in the regions by telling conflict reporting requirements, ethics and other reporting basic techniques and criteria during training session. "He said due to unqualified, lack of professionalism and UN balance reporting tribal journalists prey by different forces insurgencies". The insurgencies of various forces convert tribal belt in conflict zone. The different forces of tribal zone not give permission to foreign journalists to report events of the tribal zone therefore we train the tribal unqualified journalist "They ignore their responsibilities by enjoying high reporting power during field work he added".

The government prohibit journalist to avoid sensitive place and sensitive reporting. Government arrested the Frontier Post and Khabrain reporters in 2005 interviewed Mangal Bagh leader of lashkar-e –Islam (LI) for the first time. There is no freedom of expression rights in the tribal regions so that’s why the local people have been kept in the darkness told by Khalil Khan President of tribal Union of Khyber agency.

He further explained one of my story related to Mangal Bagh banned militant group was forward by rival group along with my number and photo. Such journalists’ confrontations prevent us to report based on facts UN able to meet the requirements of a News story. Next day Mangal Bagh warned journalist through his FM speech directed him to stay away to report story related to his banned militant group on Western media added by him.

The News Peshawar Bearue chief also a senior journalist Raheem Ullah Yusaf Zai told to all voices the tribal journalists should avoid sensitive reporting although it will reputed one but not precise from reporter life and collect exact information before send report to media Organization. "He said the national and international media Organization should give salaries, security equipments, satellite phone, and insurance facilities and well trains his reporters before send to them in war zone. He also urged the tribal elders, military forces; Taliban and intelligence agencies respect the journalists’ life in tribal area."

"His view about those journalists who killed during reporting in the field said mostly foreign media organizations wants photos and videos. Those Journalists engaged in visuals reporting have been killed by various forces that haven’t permitted video reporting in tribal zone."

Others TUJ members concern over threats in tribal belt said government not given facilities, securities and other basic facilitations to tribal journalists instead of that they sustain their reporting.

The tribal journalists working freelancers for their media Organizations therefore reluctant to report on smuggling activities like foreign goods, smuggling of heroin in tribal belt exclusively on Pak Afghan border by taken exclusive privileges from political administrative. "Every journalist facilitate through exclusive privileges depend on their media organization from political administrative told by trustworthy journalist source." He said beside the journalists Pakistan intelligence officials also engage in unfair business near Pak Afghan border.

Survey report shows around about 180 registered members of tribal union of journalists (TUJ) while still 200 un register journalists waiting for TUJ memberships working with print, electronic, news agencies, and web sites in various national and international media organizations in tribal belt. Around about 380 journalists belongs from seven tribal agencies and six FRs working in geographical and political important area in the globe. Journalists generally working for both print and electronic media at one time. The journalists feel insecure working for their organizations without any wages. The alert threats of Taliban highly effecting reporting of tribal journalists.

Journalists are considered as mirror and representative of society but during tribal journalists’ survey tribal people complained that journalists ignore real way of reporting and mostly doing government jobs without holding professional journalism degrees.

The Khyber agency AAj TV reporter Mehboob told to all voices the" president of Tribal union of journalists (TUJ) contacted with governor, NGOs and media organization and approved twenty million funds for tribal journalists including bullet proof jackets, cameras, computers, laptops and computerizes media cards." He said, "Mostly government servants occupied on TUJ which are unable to report the exact scenario of tribal area". There is no hold for government servants in executive body of TUJ. We are planning to eradicate the general membership of government servants provide them options to give resign to the government jobs come forward and sincere with the field of journalism Mehboob said.