• March 1, 2013
• Freedom of Expression
• Web Desk

PESHAWAR: Journalists in the provincial metropolis and elsewhere in the province and tribal areas Thursday staged protest to condemn the killing of Malik Mumtaz Khan, correspondent for The News in North Waziristan and demanded the government to ensure safety of mediapersons.

In the provincial metropolis, the main protest rally was held under the aegis of Khyber Union of Journalists (KhUJ), Peshawar Press Club (PPC) and Tribal Union of Journalists (TUJ).The speakers on the occasion, strongly condemned the government for its failure to provide protection to the journalist community. They said that the government and the media owners were least interested in the safety and security of media people.

They said that during the last 10 years, 18 journalists have been killed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 12 in the tribal areas. But it was a matter of shame for the government that no case could be registered in any of these murders nor any inquiry was conducted. If a judicial commission was made in one of these cases, it report could not be made public, they added.

The employees of the Directorate of Information Fata (DIF) at a condolence meeting also condemned the killing of the senior journalist Malik Mumtaz.

MARDAN: The journalist community in Mardan district staged protest against the killing of Malik Mumtaz Khan.They chanted slogans against the failure of the government and security agencies to provide security to the journalists.

Meanwhile, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Peace Committee chairman Syed Kamal Shah also condemned the killing of tribal journalist.

NOWSHERA: The journalist community staged protest against the murder of Malik Mumtaz.

BANNU: The journalists took out a protest rally against the killing of Malik Mumtaz.

TARBELA: The members of Tarbela Union of Journalists protested the brutal killing of brave and senior journalist, Malik Mumtaz.

Holding banners and placards, the journalists chanted slogans against the anti-state elements and the government for not taking measures regarding the security of the journalists.

PARACHINAR: The mediamen in Parachinar and Sadda also staged protest against the killing of noted journalist Malik Mumtaz and termed the incident a cowardly act.

LAKKI MARWAT: The journalist community took out the protest rally to condemn the killing of Malik Mumtaz. The speakers asked the governor to announced compensation for his family.

KHAR: The journalist community in Bajaur Agency staged demonstration against the gruesome killing of Malik Mumtaz and urged the government to ensure the safety to journalists working in the tribal areas.

Source: The News