Pakistani Journalist Killed in Bombing

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is deeply saddened by news of the death of another journalist in Pakistan.

According to local reports, Dr. Noor Hakim Khan, reporter for the Urdu-language daily Pakistan and vice-president of the Tribal Union of Journalists, was killed along with four other men including a government official when a bomb exploded on their vehicle on June 2.

IFJ Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park expressed condolences to Noor Hakim’s family, friends and colleagues on behalf of the international media community.

“It is an absolute tragedy to lose such a distinguished member of the journalists’ community and I sincerely hope that the Pakistani government will take the appropriate steps to apprehend these killers,” Park said.

The blast occurred in the northwestern Bajaur tribal agency, where Noor Hakim had been invited by the local government to report on the demolition of the house of a man suspected of murder.

Local sources say Noor Hakim’s vehicle appeared to be targeted, as two vehicles in their convoy passed through the area unharmed ahead of them.

“The government of Pakistan needs to take control of the tribal areas bordering Afghanistan where this kind of violence runs rampant,” Park said.

“There is no rhyme nor reason for the murder of this respected man, except for a blatant disregard for any basic laws and the knowledge that the crime will probably go unpunished,” she said.

Noor Hakim is the fourth media worker to be killed in the regions in three years.

The IFJ, the organisation representing over 500,000 journalists in more than 115 countries, urges that the perpetrators be caught before another death occurs and that the Pakistan government should appropriately compensate the families of the bombing victims.

For further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +61 2 9333 0919

The IFJ represents over 500,000 journalists in more than 115 countries