Ashrafuddin Pirzada
LANDIKOTAL: The Tribal Union of Journalists in strong possible words condemned the brutal murder of Daily Aaj reporter Hasan Zaib in Akbarpura, urging the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to take immediate action and ensure the swift arrest of the killers.
Talking to reporters The Tribal Union of Journalists (TUJ) president Qazi Fazlullah and General Secretary Khadim Khan Afridi have strongly condemned the murder of Daily Aaj reporter Hasan Zaib in Akbarpura in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
TUJ central president, Qazi Fazlullah and general secretary Khadim Khan Afridi said that government and law enforcement agencies failed to protect journalists’ life in Pakistan. They also voiced their deep concern over the escalating violence against journalists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Qazi Fazlulah said it was the third journalist gunned down in the province within the last two months.
He said the Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and the Inspector General of Police must take honest steps to provide foolproof security for the citizens and immediately notice this tragic event. He added that the government must ensure the swift arrest and prosecution of those responsible.
The TUJ ex-Fata office bearers emphasized the need for justice to be served, highlighting the importance of protecting journalists, which is essential for a free and informed society.
“Such incidents are deeply concerning and reflect a dangerous trend kicked off in which journalists are being targeted that must be addressed urgently: “We demand that the authorities must take strong and immediate action to bring Hasan Zaib’s killers to justice”, Qazi said.
He said If no concrete steps were taken, the Tribal Union of Journalists would give a protest and sit-in call in all merged districts.
The TUJ central president said journalists were again put on the hit list in Khyber district. He said terrorists have threatened journalists in district Khyber to support them or they would be killed. He said recently the Landikotal press club member and former president Khalil Jibran was gunned down in Landikotal on June 8. He said those journalists under threats in Landikotal were advised to leave the country for their protection.
