An Afghan television journalist has been shot dead and his colleague severely wounded as they were travelling in the Khyber Agency region of Pakistan.
Three masked gunmen opened fire on a minibus carrying Janullah Hashim Zada, bureau chief of Kabul-based Shamshad TV, and his colleague, Ali Khan.
According to the TV station’s news editor, Ahmad Mustafa Ariz Peshawar
Zada's brother, Aziz, said the dead man had been receiving threatening phone calls recently and believed he was being followed.
International condemnation
Zada, who contributed to various international media organisations including the AP travelled frequently to Afghanistan
The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has accused the government of being indifferent to the killing of journalists in the region. The International Press Institute (IPI) said the government must bring those responsible to justice.
IPI Director David Dadge said Zada was killed because he dared to exercise the profession of journalism and knew too much.
“His death underscores the perils of reporting from such a dangerous part of the world for journalists.”
According to the IPI 13 journalists have been killed in the region in the last two years with three deaths so far this year.
Reporters Without Borders, said the murder said the killing highlights the sharp decline in the security situation inPakistan
Reporters Without Borders, said the murder said the killing highlights the sharp decline in the security situation in
Last week the Khyber Union of Journalists (KhUJ) has repeated its demands for increased security for the media working in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP).
Note: The writer is freelance journalist and activist. He can be reached by logging on and clicking on his name (above). Zafar Iqbal also runs the Press for Peace initiative.
Copyright:MediaHelpingMedia http://www.mediahelpingmedia.org/content/view/496/1/
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