ISLAMABAD (July 21): Media in Pakistan faced at least 48 recorded incidents of attacks and harassment during the first half (Jan 1 – Jun 30) of the current year in which two journalists were murdered and 28 attacked or tortured.

Statistics compiled from print media by Internews Pakistan , an NGO working to develop and strengthen media in Pakistan , reveal that in these 48 incidents a total of 66 journalists were the victims of which 25 journalists were kidnapped or detained and 11 faced harassment or threats.

The murdered journalists include Munir Ahmed Sangi of Kawish Television Network (KTN) and Hayatullah Khan of The Nation who were killed in Sindh province and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas respectively.

The analysis shows a disturbing trend on increasing incidents of violence against media persons and media property. In January 2006 there were six such incidents and in June the number of attacks had risen to 13.

During the period under review six attacks and raids by government and political groups on media property were reported in the press including press clubs at Peshawar , Khairpur and Quetta .

In geographical terms Sindh proved to be the most dangerous to practice journalism with 29 journalists being victimized followed by 17 journalists in tribal areas, 11 in Punjab and seven in North West Frontier Province. Two journalists from the Northern Areas were also the victims of harassment.

The brunt of physical attacks and threats was faced by the print media where 52 journalists were at eth receiving end while 14 electronic media journalists also coming under attack during the first six months of 2006.

The most prominent incident of violence was the killing of Hayatullah Khan, who was kidnapped on December 5, 2005 and found dead on June 16, 2006 in Mirali, a town in North Waziristan with bullet wouds to his head.