LAHORE: Several organisations working for human and media rights on Sunday showed their outrage at threats to media outlets including English-language newspaper Daily Times and Urdu-language Aaj Kal, and rising intolerance in the country.

Representatives of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, South Asian Free Media Association, South Asia Media Commission, Joint Action Commission for People's Rights and Pakistan Labour Party in an emergency meeting condemned intolerance against journalists and vulnerable groups, a press release said.

Fearing that the trend could harm the democratic setup and economy of the country, they said such actions were performed by those who could not bear the truth to be reported in the public interest. They demanded urgent action to stop this violence.

“The government has a duty to investigate these incidents thoroughly and ensure punishment to the guilty.

The attacks are creating a climate of fear designed to marginalise voices of dissent and reason in the society,” they said.

The threats to media outlets are a terrible indicator of the dangers journalists faced in Pakistan, they said.

They expressed worry over the growing number of attacks and threats against journalists, media outlets, girls’ schools and video and barber shops.