PFP condemns brutal killing of Afghan journalist in Pakistan

Islamabad,, 25 August, 2009:

Press for Peace (PFP) on Tuesday expressed deep concern over brutal killing of an
Afghan journalist in the tribal area of Pakistan.

PFP Executive Director Zafar Iqbal, while condemning the shocking incident said that
Pakistan government must bring to justice the persons responsible for the murder of an
innocent journalist.

Janullah Hashimzada, 40, was returning from Afghanistan in a passenger coach when
militants ambushed the vehicle near Jamrud town of Khyber Agency, a known stronghold
of Taliban militants near Pak-Afghan border.

Shamim Shahid, the head of the local press club in Peshawar said on Monday that
Hashimzada had been targeted because his reporting had upset key players in the region.

“Hashimzada was very critical of the Taliban, and some of his reporting was unacceptable
both to Pakistani and Afghan governments and intelligence agencies,” Shahid was quoted
as saying in a statement.

“He had too much information regarding the militants, the Taliban and the intelligence
agencies,” Shahid added.

PFP Chief Executive, quoting international media organizations, said that 7 journalists
had been killed in the northwestern Pakistan in the past two years, which he said had been
branded the world's most dangerous regions for journalists.

At least two Pakistani journalists have been killed this year alone in the region, which is
also the location of frequent bomb attacks, he said.

Iqbal asked international humanitarian and media groups to forcefully condemn atrocious
killings of journalist in terrorism hit areas of Pakistan.

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