HRCP concerned over killing of rights defenders, journalists'

15 Dec, 2010

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has expressed concerns on the killing of a human rights' defender and three journalists in the country in the last few days. A statement issued on Tuesday said, "HRCP is grieved on the deaths of three journalists and a human rights defender (HRD) in the country in the space of one week.
Although the fact that journalists and HRD in Pakistan work in a dangerous environment hardly needs to be emphasised further, the recent death of journalists Pervez Khan and Abdul Wahab in a suicide bombing in Mohmand, target killing of Mirpurkhas Press Club president Sultan Mehmood Chandio and of Mithal Mangi in Khairpur, only reiterate the dangers they face.
HRCP expects the government to ensure that all three cases get the attention that they deserve. Pervez Khan Mohmand and Abdul Wahab were killed while performing their professional duties as journalists. The government and the two journalists' employers' must give proper financial compensation to their families.
HRCP also called upon the government to launch an inquiry into the murder of Mirpurkhas Press Club president in order to find the perpetrators and bring them to justice. Mithal Mangi was apparently murdered because of his work as a human rights defender. In that case, government needs to ensure implantation of the statements it made on December 10, International Human Rights Day, where the theme this year was 'human rights defenders'.-PR

Read Comments