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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