Slain Pakistani journalists honored

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 15 May 2012

The Newseum in Washington added the names of 72 journalists killed while covering major conflicts in 2011 to its memorial wall. Seven Pakistani journalists were among those honored, including Syed Saleem Shahzad, Nasrullah Khan Afridi and Wali Khan Babar.

Summary

WASHINGTON:Names of 72 journalists who died covering major conflicts in 2011 were added to a memorial wall at the Newseum Monday. Among those honored were seven journalists from Pakistan and as many from Iraq. The event was attended by about 70 journalists and family members. A moment of silence was observed after all the names were read. The Pakistani journalists killed last year were Syed SaleemShahzadwho worked for the Italian news agency ADNKronos and the Asia Times Online; Nasrullah Khan Afridi, of Pakistan Television and Wali Khan Babar, of Geo TV. Shahzad’sbody was found in a canal 150km from Islamabad, two days after he went missing from the capital. Suspicion over his murder has fallen on the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), which has denied involvement in his death. Afridi was killed when his car blew up in Peshawar. An explosive device was detonated remotely shortly after he returned to the vehicle, which was parked in a densely populated shopping area. Babar was shot dead by gunmen in Liaquatabad area of Karachi.

KEY POINTS:

• Newseum memorial wall in Washington added 72 journalists killed in 2011.
• Seven journalists from Pakistan were included among the honorees.
• Those named included Syed Saleem Shahzad, Nasrullah Khan Afridi and Wali Khan Babar.
• A moment of silence was observed after the names were read.
• The report noted circumstances of the killings and that ISI denied involvement in Shahzad’s death.