KhUJ condemns attack on media persons
PESHAWAR: Khyber Union of Journalists (KhUJ) has strongly condemned the firing on media persons at Malakand Top allegedly by the security forces that resulted in injuries to a cameraperson and a driver on Tuesday and demanded of the government to provide security to journalists.
A reporting team of Pashto-language TV channel along with a photographer of a national daily was on their way to the volatile region of Dir Lower for coverage when they were allegedly fired upon by the security forces at Malakand Top, resulting in bullet injuries to cameraman of the TV Malik Kamran and driver Mushtaq. A reporter of the TV channel, Lihaz Ali and photographer Abdul Majeed Goraya were also part of the team, who narrowly escaped. The injured were rushed to Civil Hospital Dargai from where they were referred to Peshawar for treatment.
“We get ourselves registered with the authorities at Dargai and were allowed by the security forces deployed at Malakand Top after thoroughly checking to move ahead. No sooner did we leave the security forces, they opened firing at us,” said Lihaz Ali.
In a statement, Khyber Union of Journalists expressed serious concern over the increasing number of threats and attacks on working journalists across NWFP and adjacent tribal belt. This is not the first incident faced by journalists, said the statement, adding that scores of journalists have been killed, injured and pushed out of their respective areas during the last several months.
The statement said the journalists have no access to the restive areas of Malakand division, particularly Swat Valley. The KhUJ demanded of the government to provide access to journalists to the restive areas and arrange proper security for them. The union also demanded of the government and the security forces’ high-ups to look into the incident of the attack on the journalists and “bring those responsible for it to the account”
Source: Business Recorder
Date:6/10/2009
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