Pakistani journalists protest killing of colleague

Condemning the killing of their colleague by the security forces in Swat, journalists staged protest demonstrations in Peshawar and other parts of Pakistan's troubled North West Frontier Province (NWFP) on Monday, demanding a probe into the incident, payment of compensation to family of the slain journalist, Qari Muhammad Shoaib, and protection for mediapersons.
The protest rally held in Peshawar, the capital city of the NWFP, under the aegis of the Khyber Union of Journalists (KhUJ) was addressed by Peshawar Press Club President M Riaz, KhUJ President Suhail Qalandar and General Secretary Khalid Khan Kheshgi.
Holding placards and banners, the participants protesting journalists chanted slogans against the security forces and militants whom they held responsible for the death of journalists, innocent people and unrest in the scenic Swat valley and other parts of the country.
The protesting journalists, who were black armbands, said that death of Qari Muhammad Shoaib was the third in Swat and seventh during the current unrest in the tribal areas and NWFP.
Qari Muhammad Shoaib, 32, local correspondent of a news agency and photojournalist of a local Urdu daily, was shot dead by the security forces on Saturday night in Mingora when he was returning home from a local hospital where his ailing daughter was admitted.
A spokesman for the army admitted the killing of the journalist, but said the security forces mistook him for a suicide bomber as he did not stop after a joint patrolling team of army and police fired warning shots.
Addressing the protesters in Peshawar, M Riaz said said the government failed to provide security to journalists, particularly in the conflict zones in the tribal areas and NWFP. He said neither militants nor the military could gag journalists and they would continue performing their professional duties. He demanded payment of compensation to the family as well as educational and other facilities for children of the slain journalist.
Suhail Qalandar said the security personnel involved in the death of Shoaib should be punished. He said on the one hand the security forces were stopping journalists from telling the truth while on the other hand militants were issuing threats to mediapersons for publishing and telecasting their statements and interviews. He said a protests would be staged countrywide on call of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists on November 12  against the killing of Shoaib.
Protest demonstrations and meetings were also held in all other cities and towns of the NWFP. The speakers condemned the killing of Shoaib and demanded protection for journalists.