PFP Condemns killing of media person in Pakistan

Stoke-on-Trent :( PFP Report)

Press for Peace (PFP) expresses deep sorrow over saddened demise of journalist Musa Khan Khel in Swat, Pakistan.
The PFP strongly condemns this brutal killing, which marks a sudden increase in violence against journalists in Pakistan.
There is an urgent need to end violence against journalists and workers of civil society organizations in Pakistan and all warring factions must refrain from targeting those serving the humanity.
The PFP supports the demonstrations and all other peaceful means of protest against killings of journalists in Pakistan.
The PFP offers its support to Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists and all other journalists’ bodies in their future endeavors to highlight violence, intimidation and threats being faced by working journalists.
The PFP is shocked to know that Musa Khan Khel had received life threats as it was admitted by a famous host of the private TV channel for which Khan was working. As the spokesman of local Taliban has admitted that they were not involved in brutal killing of journalist Musa Khan Khel, it shows that some other elements were involved in this killing.
Press for Peace, being a watchdog of journalistic conditions reserves its right to ask for an impartial and unbiased inquiry of the killing of journalist Musa Khan Khel. An impartial and unbiased inquiry should be ordered by the president of Pakistan to identify the perpetrators of this heinous crime.
The activists and members of the PFP would hold protest at various levels against those involved in killings of media workers and the circumstances under which journalistic profession in Pakistan has become the most risky and precarious.
Condemning the brutal killing of Musa Khan Khel, PFP Chief Executive Zafar Iqbal said “The spate of serious offences against journalist community should be stopped.” He said this while addressing a meeting held here in Stoke-on-Trent.
He said that as there were clear indications that the slain journalist was at the hit-list of terrorists, it was the responsibility of the government and the media organization for which Khan was working to ensure his safety.
“So far, eight journalists have been killed in the troubled areas of Pakistan therefore the government should immediately constitute an inquiry tribunal and arrest the culprits,” he said.
The government should award exemplary punishment to the killers of Khan Khel, he added.