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