Pakistan Govt Failed to Protect Murdered Journalist

Pakistan Govt Failed to Act on Threats Against Murdered Journalist

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) once again urges Pakistan’s Government to take urgent action to address the killing of journalists, after the targeted murder of senior journalist Nasrullah Afridi in Peshawar on the evening of May 10.

Afridi, who was associated with Pakistan Television (PTV) and the Urdu daily Mashriq, was killed when a remote-control device planted in his car exploded at Peshawar’s Khyber Super Market, according to IFJ affiliate the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), the Tribal Union of Journalists (TUJ) and the Khyber Union of Journalists (KUJ).

“The IFJ joins journalists and their unions in Pakistan in expressing despair at the Government’s lamentable failure to make good on its promise to ensure authorities take action to prevent murders of journalists,” IFJ Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park said.

“We demand that the Government direct local authorities to fully and promptly investigate the murder of Nasrullah Afridi and the killings of other media personnel. The Government must send a clear and urgent message that culprits will be brought to justice.”

Afridi, who is survived by his wife and five children, had been reporting from Khyber Agency in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).

A member of the TUJ, he had told Dawn newspaper as far back as 2007 that provincial authorities had failed to provide him with security despite being aware of threats to his life.

The TUJ reported Afridi was threatened by militant groups because he reported the news without prejudice.

As a result of the threats, including an attack on his home, Afridi moved to Hayatabad, a suburb of Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain confirmed Afridi was targeted by militants.

PFUJ secretary general Amin Yousuf joined the KUJ, the TUJ and the Peshawar Press Club in condemning the negligence of authorities to protect threatened media personnel reporting from Pakistan’s conflict zones.

The TUJ has announced three days of mourning, while Peshawar-based journalists will stage a protest demonstration at the Peshawar Press Club on May 12 to condemn the murder of yet another colleague and to demand an end to impunity for the killings of media personnel.

For further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +61 2 9333 0919

The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 131 countries

Find the IFJ on Twitter: @ifjasiapacific

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ENDS

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