KARACHI, Nov 30: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has condemned a ban imposed by suspected militants on distribution of newspapers in tribal areas and termed this year’s incidents of violence against the press worst in the country’s history.

A statement issued by the PFUJ said that in yet another incident of violence suspected militants had banned sale of newspapers, torched their copies and detained a local reporter near Miramshah.

It said that journalists working in tribal areas were facing ‘double pressure’ — detained, tortured and harassed by intelligence agencies and victimised, forced to quit their jobs, beaten up and abducted by militants.

The PFUJ supported the International Federation of Journalists’ plan for an international media conference on 'Protection of Journalists in Pakistan' early next year.

It appealed to international journalist bodies to declare 2007 as the ‘year for protection of journalists in Pakistan’.

The PFUJ said there were reports that many young journalists in tribal areas had quit the profession over the past few months.

The statement referred to the detention of Karachi-based journalist Salim Shahzad by the Taliban in Afghanistan ‘although he had gone to interview their leaders.

The PFUJ vowed to continue its struggle in defence of freedom of the press.