Pakistan world’s deadliest country for journalists: CPJ

NEW YORK - Forty-two journalists were killed around the world this year, and Pakistan was the deadliest country of all, according to a study by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

The New York-based CPJ said that Pakistan led the list of fatalities with eight, followed by Iraq with four and three each in Honduras and Mexico.

“The killing of 42 journalists in 2010, while a decline over previous years, is still unacceptably high and reflective of the pervasive violence journalists confront around the world,” the Daily Times quoted CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon, as saying.

“From Afghanistan to Mexico, Thailand to Russia, the failure of governments to investigate crimes against the press contributes to a climate of impunity that ultimately fuels further violence,” he added.

The study said that most of the 42 deaths were murders, while 40 percent took place in combat and other dangerous circumstances.

Nearly all the victims were local reporters, while six of them were Internet-based journalists.

“CPJ research shows that about 90 percent of journalist murders go unsolved despite the fact that many victims reported receiving threats in the weeks before they were killed,” the CPJ said in a statement. (ANI)