Slain journalist buried
KHAR: Tribal journalist Mohammad Ibrahim, gunned down by unidentified assailants on Thursday, was laid to rest in his hometown Bhai Cheena of Bajaur Agency, amid announcement by the militants to publicly execute his killers.
Besides a sizeable number of tribesmen, local journalists and militants’ regional commander Maulana Faqir Mohammad and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Spokesman Maulvi Omar, along with dozens of militants, attended the funeral prayers of the slain journalist, who was associated with the Urdu-language Daily Express and its TV channel ‘Express News’.
Reporter Ibrahim was returning home on his motorcycle after interviewing TTP spokesman Maulvi Omar when masked men sprayed bullets on him on a bypass road near Inayat Kalley on Thursday. He died on the spot while the killers fled, taking his motorcycle, camera and tapes.
He left behind a widow, six daughters and two sons and was said to be the lone breadwinner. No militant group has claimed the killing. Militant commander Maulana Faqir Mohammad condemned the cold-blooded murder and termed it as a direct attack on his militant group as he had gone to interview the militants’ spokesman Maulvi Omar. “This attack should not be deemed against the journalists and media. I consider it as a direct attack on myself, on my Taliban colleagues as he was a responsible and impartial journalist,” remarked Maulana Faqir Mohammad while speaking at a huge gathering of mourners.
Similarly, TTP spokesman Maulvi Omar also spoke on the occasion and said they would not spare the killers. He told the gathering that Ibrahim and another journalist Sahibzada Bahauddin had interviewed him in a very cordial atmosphere and he could not believe that someone could kill him so mercilessly.
Meanwhile, Political Agent of Bajaur Agency Shakirullah Khan Wazir announced Rs 100,000 compensation for the family of the slain reporter. Also, he said the political administration would pay Rs 5,000 monthly stipend to the family of Ibrahim Khan.
The political agent could not visit the hometown of the late reporter, which is close to Khar, Bajaur’s regional headquarters, to condole his death with his family for security concerns. He, however, went to the Bajaur Press Club, in front of the PA office, and prayed for departed soul of the late reporter.
Source: The News
Date:5/24/2008
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