“Press freedom must be defended everywhere in the world with the same energy and the same insistence,” Reporters Without Borders secretary-general Jean-François Julliard said today as his organization issued its eighth annual world press freedom index.

One has the right to ask that who will defend Press Freedom when the powerful ones, being able to get promotion from your highness, trample it.

After openly giving threats to the Pakistani Media the United State’s terrorist Marines and Blackwater mercenaries are now after Peshawar based Journalist Syed Fawad Ali Shah who was the first one to report the Blackwater presence in Peshawar, Pakistan.

Syed Fawad Ali Shah has alleged that he has received life threats from Blackwater (BW) officials and if something happens to him or his family US Ambassador to Pakistan and Consular General of US Consulate in Peshawar will be responsible.

He said that he carried out a report about activities of Black Water in Pakistan in his newspaper and after that he was constantly receiving threats from BW officials and some Pakistani officials, who were working for them.

Fawad alleged that US anti-terrorism experts were overseeing the BW activities in Pakistan. In this regard, he claimed, they have acquired services of several retired armed forces officials.

“They have also acquired some residential units in the posh areas of the city by giving huge amounts in advance,” he said. “They are also paying heavy packages to their local drivers. James Bill William, Copper, Steven Cash, Roderick Christopher and Alisha Cambel are looking after the activities of Black Water in Peshawar,” he claimed.

Earlier, Fawad Ali Shah held a press conference at National Press Club, Islamabad. He denied reports that by doing so he was trying to get a US visa. He appealed to the government and journalist community to provide protection to him and his family.

I don’t know whether the International Community especially UN Security Council which has passed Resolution 1738, protecting journalists, would take soft if not serious note of it or not? I’m not sure whether “our” interior Minister Rehman Malik whose job has remained just to make phone calls to Islamabad police after they arrest Blackwater terrorists red handedly, will take measures for the protection of Fawad Ali Shah. But I am sure that Fawad will certainly enjoy the support of all those not living in “the state of denial”.

Time for Action;

Let’s come out and take action. Let’s write to Pakistan’s Interior Minister Rehman Malik at   and American ambassador in Islamabad, Annie W. Paterson at infoisb@state.gov telling them that we are with Fawad Ali Shah. It’s the duty of Rehman Malik to protect Fawad Ali Shah and other reporters exposing American Terrorism.