Media Release: Pakistan
27 May 2013
The
International Federation of Journalists joins affiliate the Pakistan Federal
Union of Journalists (PFUJ) in strongly condemning the killing of a journalist
in Bahawalnagar district of Punjab province in Pakistan on Friday May 24.
According
to reports, Ahmed Ali Joiya, 25, a reporter for several local newspapers and
magazines, had been coordinating with the local police on a crime story he was working
on.
According
to police, Joiya had received threats from Maqbool (Kooli Sassi), a known criminal.
On Friday Joiya was in a market in Bhangrana village when unidentified men shot
Joiya, immediately killing him. Two street vendors were also injured in the
attack.
Joiya
is survived by a wife and two children.
In
a statement, PFUJ President Pervaiz Shaukat called on the police to arrest the
culprits immediately and bring them to justice. “Joiya was a brave journalist
who was working on exposing criminals. He has been killed in the line of duty,”
Mr Shaukat said.
In
a statement, PFUJ Secretary General Amin Yousaf also condemned the killing. “Joiya
was a young journalist who had the vigour to expose the wrongs in the society.
His efforts are praiseworthy.” Mr Yousaf called on the law enforcement agencies
to bust the criminal gangs and arrest those involved in the killing.
2013
is proving to be one of the deadliest for Pakistan’s journalists. This latest
killing is an indictment on the authorities in Pakistan who
continue to allow a culture of impunity to flourish. Journalists must be
allowed to do their job of scrutinising the powerful and holding them to
account. We call on the government to demonstrate its commitment to press
freedom and investigate this crime with vigour.
For
further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +61 2 9333 0950
The IFJ
represents more than 600,000 journalists in 131 countries
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