Pakistan’s media is vibrant, outspoken – and vulnerable. Despite reforms passed in recent years, journalists continue to face arbitrary arrest, detention, and deadly violence. In 2025, Pakistan ranked 158 out of 180 countries in the Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index, sliding six places in a year. And in 2024 alone, 14 journalists were murdered.
The deeper crisis is impunity. According to Freedom Network, only two of 53 cases of journalist murders between 2012 and 2022 resulted in convictions, and both were overturned. And for 16 straight years, Pakistan has appeared on the Committee to Protect Journalists’ Global Impunity Index.
The scale of the problem is clear. A major investigation by the A Safer World for the Truth coalition – consisting of international press freedom organizations Free Press Unlimited, Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders – into the 2007 murder of journalist Zubair Mujahid exposed serious flaws: forensic failures, conflicts of interest, and manipulated witness testimony.
Momentum for reform grew at the “No More Impunity in Crimes Against Journalists” symposium in Karachi in 2022, where journalists, legal experts, activists and government officials agreed: the situation had to change, fast. Together, they called for creating a standing, civil society-led body to provide expert input during investigations.
Safe Journalism was born from that consensus.
Co-founder
Head of Investigations
Adil Jawad is a seasoned journalist with over 20 years of experience in investigative journalism. Holding a master’s degree in political science from Karachi University, he has worked at the Express Media Group and the Associated Press (AP), reporting hundreds of investigative stories and providing coverage of high-profile crime, natural
Jos Bartman is a research coordinator at Free Press Unlimited, where he investigates cold cases of journalist murders. He specializes in patterns of impunity and has contributed to the invigoration of cold cases of journalist murders in a range of countries. He also holds a Ph.D. in Political Science
PhD
Research Coordinator
Aman is an accomplished litigation lawyer with over seven years of extensive experience, representing clients before the District and High Courts of Pakistan. As an associate partner at MCA Law Associates, he leads a diverse litigation portfolio encompassing criminal, civil, and commercial matters. Renowned
Co-founder
Head of Legal
Yumna Fatima is a political science lecturer at the Institute of Business Administration, Karachi. She is currently completing a PhD in International Relations from American University, Washington DC, with a specialization in political violence and terrorism. She was previously a city editor at The Express Tribune.
Project consultant
Mehmal Sarfraz has worked in the media since 2005. She is an analyst on Geo News’ program, Report Card. Mehmal is co-founder of The Current, a digital news and lifestyle platform. She was Pakistan Correspondent of The Hindu (India). She has also worked as a senior Content Producer at Neo TV
Co-founder
Head of Advocacy
Adil Jawad is a seasoned journalist with over 20 years of experience in investigative journalism. Holding a Master’s degree in Political Science from Karachi University, he has worked at the Express Media Group and the Associated Press (AP), reporting hundreds of investigative stories and providing coverage of high-profile crime, natural disasters and terrorist attacks. Adil was one of the lead investigators and co-authors of a comprehensive investigative report on the 2007 murder of Pakistani journalist Zubair Mujahid, published in 2021 by “A Safer World for the Truth”—a coalition of leading international journalist rights organizations.
Mehmal Sarfraz has worked in the media since 2005. She is an analyst on Geo News’ program, Report Card. Mehmal is co-founder of The Current, a digital news and lifestyle platform. She was Pakistan Correspondent of The Hindu (India). She has also worked as a senior Content Producer at Neo TV and was head of Neo’s 2018 Elections Transmission. Previously, she has worked as the Op-Ed Editor of Daily Times.
Jos Bartman is research coordinator at Free Press Unlimited, where he investigates cold cases of journalist murders. He specializes in patterns of impunity and has contributed to the-invigoration of cold cases of journalist murders in a range of countries. He also holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Amsterdam. In his dissertation, he looked at why and how subnational political elites repress journalists and other communicators.
Aman is an accomplished litigation lawyer with over seven years of extensive experience, representing clients before the District and High Courts of Pakistan. As an Associate Partner at MCA Law Associates, he leads a diverse litigation portfolio encompassing criminal, civil, and commercial matters. Renowned for his involvement in landmark cases, Aman combines his expertise with a strong commitment to social justice through dedicated pro bono work.
Yumna Fatima is a political science lecturer at the Institute of Business Administration, Karachi. She is currently completing a PhD in International Relations from American University, Washington DC, with a specialization in political violence and terrorism. She was previously a city editor at The Express Tribune.