Two newsmen killed in WANA
Two journalists were shot dead and another received serious bullet wound when unidentified armed persons opened fire at their vehicle on February 7 in South Waziristan Agency (WANA) in Pakistan.
One of the journalist killed was Allah Noor Wazir, correspondent of English language daily The Nation, Lahore, and Pashto language AVT Khyber Television. “He was a very daring journalist … very active and ready to take initiative,” said Amir Mateen, News Director of Khyber Television.
The other journalist killed was Amir Nawab Khan Wazir correspondent of English language daily The Frontier Post, Peshawar of a freelance cameraman for Associated Press Television News (APTN. Both the journalists who were killed belonged to the local Ahmadzai Wazir tribe.
Anwar Shakir, correspondent of the Urdu language daily Islam, Karachi, and a stringer of the AFP news agency, received bullet wound in the abdomen and underwent surgery at a local hospital. His condition is stated to be stable and he expected to be moved to a larger hospital as soon as his condition permits.
The journalists were traveling in a van after attending the ceremony arranged in connection with reconciliation between the government and rebel leader Baitullah Mehsud. When the journalists were near TB Hospital WANA, a group of armed persons in a car opened fire at them.
The victims were rushed to the local hospital where doctors declared Allah Noor Wazir and Amir Nawab Wazir dead, while Anwar Shakir was admitted to the hospital. Other journalists in the van escaped injuries.
The area administration said the attackers managed to escape after spraying the van with AK-47 assault rifles. Paramilitary troops are reported to be searching the area to track down the attackers. The motive for the assault could not be confirmed and so for no one has claimed responsibility for the attack.
The attack has been widely condemned. President Council of Pakistan Newspapers Editors (CPNE) and editor of The Nation Arif Nizami strongly condemned the incident terming it an attempt to suppress the freedom of press. He asked the authorities to initiate immediate probe into the case and arrest the elements involved in the attack. The Khyber Union of Journalists took out a procession in Peshawar to protest the killings.
Source: Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)
Date:2/7/2005
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