The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) Friday expressed concern on the death of another journalists, Raja Assad Hameed, who was killed on Thursday in Rawalpindi. In a statement, the IFJ also expressed its concern for the failure of Pakistan authorities to fully investigate the killings of journalists.
Hameed, a senior reporter for the daily Nation and Waqt TV Channel, was shot four times by unidentified assailants, as he arrived at his home in Rawalpindi on Thursday. He died in hospital.
The IFJ, through the statement said, it joins the PFUJ in its demand that Pakistan Government should direct local authorities to conduct a full investigation and to bring the culprits to justice. The IFJ further said, it is disturbed to learn that authorities have not properly investigated the abduction and murder of GEO correspondent, Musa Khankhel in Swat Valley on February 18.
The Government of Pakistan must act on its stated commitment to defend media rights, including the right of media personnel to be protected against targeted violence, IFJ Asia-Pacific Director, Jacqueline Park said.
Offering to provide compensation after violence has been committed is insufficient to deal with the level of violence directed against the media in various parts of Pakistan, he said. The murder of Assad follows another killing of a journalist this week. Tariq Malik, a young correspondent for Dawn News, was shot dead in Lahore on March 24 in what appears to have been a street robbery unrelated to his professional work.
Journalists from all over Pakistan, who are gathering in Faisalabad this weekend for the PFUJs biannual delegates meeting, will hold a demonstration to protest against continuing violence against journalists and to appeal to the authorities to take serious action against the criminals.