The recent unrest in Kurram district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which has so far claimed the lives of 73 individuals, resulted in the death of one journalist and an attack on the home of another.

On November 21, Janan Hussain, General Secretary of the Parachinar Press Club and a correspondent for News 365, was amongst those killed in a brutal ambush on a convoy of passenger vehicles in Lower Kurram which claimed the lives of 44 individuals.

Hussain, returning to Parachinar from Malaysia, was traveling in a convoy of approximately 200 vehicles when he was attacked near Mandori Char Khel.

Hussain had previously lost a leg in a landmine explosion in 2009 but persevered in his journalism career.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government spokesperson Barrister Saif assured the media during a visit to Parachinar that Hussain’s family would receive financial compensation and a martyr’s package.

Mazhar Abbas, reporting head at 365 News, remembered Hussain as a hardworking journalist deeply committed to representing his region. “He was a good reporter and a good person,” said Abbas. “The last time I spoke to him was when he wanted to cover the clashes for us, but these things cannot go so freely on mainstream media as we all know. But he was always looking for stories,” Abbas added.

In protests that followed the tragic incident, senior journalist Muhammad Rehan, associated with TNN, lost his home in the Bagan area of Lower Kurram. Armed men set fire to his house and guest house on November 22. Rehan’s family, along with many others, fled to nearby areas for safety.

Rehan recounted the harrowing night, explaining that heavy firing broke out in the Bagan Bazaar, where attackers indiscriminately used light and heavy weapons. “The Bagan Bazaar was completely burned down, and homes were later targeted. It was an extremely challenging situation as we had to ensure the safety of women and children while under intense fire,” he said.

The Khyber Union of Journalists (KhUJ) and the Peshawar Press Club (PPC) have strongly condemned both incidents, calling for immediate action to ensure the safety of journalists in Kurram district. In a joint statement, KhUJ President Kashifuddin Syed, PPC President Arshad Aziz Malik, and other leaders demanded the arrest of those responsible and warned of province-wide protests if no action was taken.