THE Coalition for Women in Journalism (CFWIJ) has launched a social-media campaign to support female journalists in Pakistan against threats they face both offline and online.

Using the hashtag #ThreatsToWIJ, the Twitter campaign aims to link female journalists and activists to discuss the threats they face across the world.

Yesterday’s campaign launch comes days after the murder of local news anchor at state-owned broadcaster PTV and magazine editor Shaheena Shaheen Baloch, who was shot dead by unknown assailants outside her home in Turbat.

Investigations into the killing continue, but police spokesman Najeebullah Pandrani claimed: “The killing was the result of domestic violence.”

In a statement the CFWIJ said: “In the last two years, the CFWIJ has recorded an unprecedented increase of online and physical attacks on women journalists, activists or any women voices.

“The brutal murder of journalist Shaheena Shaheen Baloch crystalises the magnitude of the problem: that women can be killed, by loved ones and by strangers.”