The Baloch Hal News
QUETTA: Journalists in Khuzdar observed Monday as a black day to protest the killing of fellow journalist Munir Ahmed Shakir who was shot dead in the town the other day while returning home.Demanding the arrest of Shakir’s assassins, the journalists said that killings of journalists was intended to gag the media. Meanwhile, people from all walks of life offered their condolences to Shakir’s elder brother, Mohammad Tufail Sabir, and to his younger brother, Nazeer Ahmed, in Khuzdar district.
National and international journalists’ bodies, human rights groups and political parties have condemned Shakir’s killing and demanded of the government to arrest the killers. In a statement, the International Federation of Journalists said that IFJ was alarmed to learn of the killing of another journalist in Balochistan. New York-based
Committee to Protect Journalist also condemned the killing of Baloch journalist. Bob Dietz, CPJ’s Asia program coordinator, said: “Conditions for journalists in Pakistan continue to steadily decline, with unexplained murders, abductions, and a stream of threats from many quarters.”
Committee to Protect Journalist also condemned the killing of Baloch journalist. Bob Dietz, CPJ’s Asia program coordinator, said: “Conditions for journalists in Pakistan continue to steadily decline, with unexplained murders, abductions, and a stream of threats from many quarters.”
“With the government unable or unwilling to address the problems, journalists must
organize among themselves to establish safer working conditions and emergency response systems,” Dietz said.
organize among themselves to establish safer working conditions and emergency response systems,” Dietz said.
Human Rights Commission of Pakistan in its statement issued on Monday said: “The HRCP is alarmed at the murder of journalist Munir Shakir in Khuzdar, the fourth killing of a journalist in the district in the last 12 months.” The HRCP urged the authorities to investigate Munir Shakir’s killing to identify and prosecute his killers.
Secretary Information of Balochistan National Party , Agha Hasan Baloch Advocate, also condemned Shakir’s killing and said that nobody’s life was safe in Balochistan. Baloch said Shakir was a brave man and had been carrying out his duty professionally
and with objectivity. He said Pakistan is increasingly becoming a dangerous country for the journalists who believe in reporting freely to bring out the truth to the people.
and with objectivity. He said Pakistan is increasingly becoming a dangerous country for the journalists who believe in reporting freely to bring out the truth to the people.
Munir Shakir was shot dead yesterday in Khuzdar after he had photogrpahed and reported a strike called by Baloch nationalist groups to observe Pakistan’sIndependence Day as a black day. Khuzdar is one of the most volatile districts in restive Balochistan. In the last one year, four journalists have been killed in the district, including Shakir.
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