Journalists protest colleague's killing, demand protection

Local journalists here Wednesday staged a protest demonstration against the killing of the tribal journalist Nasrullah Khan Afridi, martyred in a bomb explosion in a busy commercial area of Peshawar Cantonment on Tuesday night. The angry journalists, who came from all tribal agencies of the federally administered tribal areas (Fata) and Peshawar staged the demo soon after offering funeral prayers of the deceased journalist in Hayatabad Township.
The funeral prayers of Nasrullah Khan Afridi, a tribal journalist of Khyber Agency were offered at Bagh-e-Naran, Hayatabad Township here on Wednesday morning. Nasrullah Khan Afridi was martyred in a bomb blast on Tuesday. The explosive material was planted in his vehicle.
Besides, a large number of the people from different walks of life, and a large number of journalists from Peshawar and Fata also attended. Tight security arrangements were made on the occasion of the funeral prayers. The journalists were chanting slogans against the killing of his colleague, and demanded provision of protection to them. Those who addressed the protesting journalists were included Assistant Secretary General, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), Khalid Kheshgi, president, Peshawar Press Club (PPC), Saiful Islam Saifi, president, Tribal Union of Journalists (TUJ), Safdar Hayat and senior journalist, Shamim Shahid.
Addressing the protesting journalists, Khalid Kheshgi condemned the killing of another journalist in a terrorist attack, saying that security agencies had failed in provision of security to the journalists. He demanded immediate unmasking of the culprits involved in the incident. The president, PPC, Saiful Islam Saifi condemned the killing and demanded payment of compensation to the heirs of the Nasrullah under Martyrs Package. He further demanded of the government for looking after of the children of the deceased journalist.
Shamim Shahid, a senior journalist and former president, PPC demanded declassification of the inquiry conducted into the killing of other tribal journalists to bring the culprits into justice. Later, the protesting journalists dispersed peacefully. Khyber Union of Journalists (KhUJ) has also announced a protest demo against the incident on Thursday. Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor, Barrister Masood Kausar has strongly condemned the brutal killing of the renowned tribal journalist.