Another Journalist Murdered In Pakistan - IFJ Demands End To Impunity
Islamabad, Sep. 15 : - The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) in demanding an immediate investigation into the murder of journalist Misri Khan in Hangu, in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan’s north-west, on September 13.
Khan, 50, was a senior journalist with the Daily Ausaf. He had owned a well-known news service in Hangu and served as president of the Hangu Union of Journalists.
He was shot by unidentified gunmen while entering his office at the Hangu Press Club, and died in Hangu district hospital a short time later. He is survived by his wife and 11 children.
The motivation for his murder is not yet clear, but Khan is known to have received several death threats from militants for his uncompromising reporting and had been subjected to attacks in the past.
“Misri Khan’s murder is yet another terrible reminder of how dangerous it is for journalists working in Pakistan,” IFJ General Secretary Aidan White said.
“The IFJ joins Khan’s colleagues and family in mourning his death and demands that authorities take swift action to bring his killers to justice.
“Pakistan’s power-holders must act to end the culture of impunity for the murders of journalists, and order local and federal authorities to conduct immediate investigations in order to prosecute killers.”
In a separate case, the PFUJ expressed grave concerns for the welfare of Hasan Sharjeel, the abducted 18-year-old son of Shakil Turabi, editor-in-chief of the Islamabad-based South Asian News Agency. Sharjeel has been missing since January 5.
According to the PFUJ, Turabi believes his journalistic work is the motivation for the abduction of his son.
After a ransom letter from the supposed abductors turned out to be fake, Turabi alleges that Pakistani intelligence operatives are holding Sharjeel hostage. Army sources have suggested to him the young man has been detained in relation to an attack on a mosque in which senior military officials were killed.
Turabi has requested the Supreme Court take action, and the court has since ordered Pakistan’s Interior Ministry to help locate Sharjeel and identify those responsible for his abduction.
An initial hearing scheduled for September 7 was postponed until September 20, according to local media reports.
For further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +612 9333 0919
The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 125 countries
Find the IFJ on Twitter: @ifjasiapacific
Shamsul Islam Naz
Secretary General
PAKISTAN FEDERAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS
http://www.shamsulislamnaz.com
http://www.pfuj.pk
http://www.facebook.com/shamsul.naz
http://shamsulisalmnaz.blogspot.com/?spref=gb
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