IFJ Condemns Killing of TV Cameraman in Suicide Attack in Pakistan

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today condemned the "mindless violence" behind a targeted suicide attack in Pakistan which led to the killing of a journalist and injuries to five others at a hospital in the town of Bajau in the tribal areas of the country.

 

Seven people were killed in the attack including Malik Arif, a veteran cameraman of Samaa TV. He was one of a group of media staff filming a gathering of friends of a local businessman who had himself escaped assassination and was being treated at the hospital. The bomber opened fire on the group before blowing himself up.

 

 "We mourn another media victim of mindless violence," said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary. "Reporters just doing their job covering news events become inevitable victims when ruthless extremists target unsuspecting civilians, including journalists."

 

The five injured journalists were Arif's Samaa TV colleague Noor Elahi Bugti , Geo TV reporter Salman Ashraf, Fareed Ahmed of Dunya TV , Khalid Ahmed of Express TV and Malik Sohail of Aaj TV, according to local sources.

 

The IFJ says the latest killing shows how journalists and media workers continue to face daily risks reporting their stories from the frontline of countries where terrorism and violence has become an increasingly routine part of political life. Last week, Reuters cameramen Hiro Muramoto, a Japanese national, was shot dead on Saturday while covering street violence in Bangkok.

 

"These latest tragic deaths call for a stronger commitment to protect journalists who are asked to take on the most perilous tasks," added White. "The loss of experienced journalists is tragic for their families and colleagues, but it is also a blow to the entire democratic community."   

 

 

For more information contact the IFJ at     +32 2 235 22 07

 

The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 125 countries worldwide