Journalists boycotted the National Assembly session on Saturday to protest the assassination of their colleague Hayatullah Khan in tribal areas and demanded of the government to constitute an independent judicial commission under the Chief Justice of Pakistan to probe the killing.
Hayatullah Khan, a journalist from tribal areas was found dead on Friday in Mir Ali. He went missing back on December 5, last year and was reportedly kidnapped by some unknown people.
The incident had shocked and provoked the journalist community across the country, which announced to observe countrywide 'Black Day' on Monday.
Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has announced to continue their boycott of the Parliament till setting up of an independent judicial commission to investigate the incident.
A large number of journalists protested in front of the Parliament House after boycotting the National Assembly session.
They demanded of the government to set up an independent judicial commission under the Chief Justice of Pakistan with representatives from journalists, judiciary and parliamentarians from opposition and treasury.
They also sought taking of a suo moto action by the Chief Justice of Pakistan against the brutal killing of Hayatullah Khan. Some protesters blamed the government for Khan's death and chanted anti-government slogans but Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao dismissed the allegation.
The protesting journalists also refused to meet Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, who wanted to meet journalists' representatives.
"We will not meet anybody until a judicial commission is formed to probe the incident", said Afzal Butt, General Secretary Rawalpindi-Islamabad Press Club.
The journalists alleged that on the one hand the government raises slogan of freedom of press, while on the other, it targets the working journalists.
"It is not killing of Hayatullah Khan, it is a worst example of targeting the free media " said Pervaiz Shaukat, President Federal Union of Journalists.
He also demanded of the government to sack political agent in Waziristan, who did nothing despite reminding his kidnapping frequently.
Meanwhile, parliamentarians, belonging to the opposition parties expressed solidarity with the journalists and asked the government to expose the elements responsible for killing of Hayatullah Khan.
Raja Pervez Ashraf, MNA of the PPP said that Hayat's assassination was not killing of a single journalist rather it is an attack on freedom of press and democracy. He said it was right time for the journalists and democratic forces to get united against the power usurpers.
Khwaja Saad Rafiq of the PML-N said that killing of journalist is reflection of state terrorism and it exposed the real façade of so-called enlightened moderation.
Sherry Rehman of the PPPP said that for the first time three journalists were killed in the area while performing their duties.
She highlighted that the government did nothing for saving Hayatullah's life despite taking up the issue on the floor of the House and demanded for forming a judicial commission comprising opposition members and journalists.
Hafiz Hussain Ahmed of the MMA paid rich tribute to the deceased journalist saying that he gave his life without compromising on the principles of journalism.
Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao said that government would probe the incident and would bring to book the responsible elements. The government had done all it could to find Hayatullah in the violence-plagued region, he said. "We will hold an impartial inquiry and bring the killers to justice," he added.