The
International Federation of Journalists joins its affiliate the Pakistan
Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) in expressing outrage and condemning the
killing of journalist MushtaqKhand, a reporterfor privately-owned Dharti TV, during a public meeting organised by the ruling Pakistan People’s Party
(PPP) in Khairpur, in the south-eastern province of Sindh, on the evening of October
7.
Mushtaq
Khand, a reporter for Dharti Television Network, was covering the PPP meeting
when over 10 gunmen opened fire. It is believed that up to seven people were
killed and twelve people were injured in the incident, including three
journalists - Faheem Mangi , Allah Dad Rind and Mukhtiar Phulpoto, who was shot
five times and is now in intensive care in Karachi. Khand had been working as a
journalist for the last 10 years and was the standing president of Khairpur
Press Club for the past five years.
In a statement, PFUJ President Pervaiz Shaukat expressed his condolences to the
families and colleagues of the victims and added that journalists are
frequently caught in bomb blasts and attacks while covering events.
The PFUJ has
been focussed on the provision of safety trainings to journalists and how to
deal with violent situations. PFUJ
Secretary General Amin Yousuf also offered his condolences to the families of
those who lost their lives in the attack. “Numerous journalists have lost their
lives in the line of duty and Mushtaq Khand is the latest victim in the list,”
he said.
President of
the Sukkur National Press Club Sarfraz Memon and President of the Sukkur Union
of Journalists Irfan Shaikh led a protest, condemning the attack and demanding
that the government take action to the
arrest the perpetrators.
“We condemn the
brutal killing of Mushtaq Khand and extend our condolences to the families and
colleagues of the victims. The IFJ stands in solidarity with our colleagues and
affiliates in Pakistan and call on Pakistan’s state and federal authorities to
immediately conduct a swift and credible investigation into the attack,” IFJ
Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park said.
Pakistan remains among the deadliest countries in the world for
journalists. At least five journalists
have been killed in Pakistan this year.
The PFUJ/IFJ published a report on the State of Journalism in Sindh Province, released on World Press
Freedom Day 2012. It is available on the
IFJ website here.
For
further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific
on +612 9333 0918
The IFJ
represents more than 600,000 journalists in 131 countries
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