IFJ condemns murder of Samaa employee

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 13 February 2017

The International Federation of Journalists has condemned the murder of Samaa TV journalist Taimoor Abbas in Karachi. This incident highlights the ongoing violence against media personnel in Pakistan.

Summary

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has strongly condemned the brutal killing of a Samaa TV journalist in Karachi Sunday. It demanded immediate arrest of the killers and justice for the killed cameraman.

Taimoor Abbas, 22-year-old assistant cameraman of Samaa TV, was shot in his head and chest when he was traveling in the Digital Satellite News Gathering (DSNG) van in north Nazimabad to report on an attack on the police. He was taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital where he died from his injuries.

The unidentified assailants on a motorbike had thrown an explosive device on a police armored personnel carrier, and had started shooting when the Samaa TV van arrived. Prime Minister Nawaf Sharif has also condemned the killing calling it an ‘attack on the freedom of speech’. Abbas is the second journalist killed in Pakistan this year. On January 12, unidentified attackers shot dead 37-year-old Muhammad Jan Sumalani, a reporter of Urdu language daily Qudrat and Brahui language daily Talar, Quetta in Balochistan. Since 2005 over 100 journalists have been killed, making Pakistan one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists.

IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said: “The killing of yet another media staff in Pakistan is sad news as Pakistan has failed to improve the security for journalists despite seeing hundreds of journalists and media staff being brutally killed over last few years. The IFJ condemns the killing of Taimoor Abbas in Karachi and demands for strong action from Pakistan government to ensure justice to the slain media staff.” - IFJ media release/Image courtesy: The Express Tribune

KEY POINTS:

• Taimoor Abbas was killed while reporting on a police attack in Karachi.
• The IFJ demands immediate action from the Pakistani government.
• This marks the second journalist death in Pakistan this year.
• Over 100 journalists have been killed in Pakistan since 2005.
• Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has condemned the incident as an attack on free speech.