BLF denies threatening BBC journalist

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 5 August 2012

The Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) has officially denied allegations of threatening journalist Ayub Tareen. Spokesman Behram Baloch emphasized their historical stance of not harming journalists.

Summary

QUETTA: The Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) has denied threatening journalist Ayub Tareen of the BBC Urdu Service in Quetta. BLF spokesman Behram Baloch told BBC Urdu that throughout the past 10 years of struggle for liberation, they had never threatened or harmed any journalist. Earlier reports had said Ayub was forced to flee the city for an undisclosed location after being threatened by BLF on July 21. Tareen told Reporters without Borders last week he was forced to leave Quetta after the BLF accused him of partisan reporting on its political activities and threatened him. See our earlier story here

KEY POINTS:

• BLF spokesman denies threats to Ayub Tareen.
• Tareen alleged he was forced to flee Quetta.
• BLF claims no harm has come to journalists in 10 years.
• Earlier reports suggested Tareen was targeted for partisan reporting.
• The incident raises concerns about journalist safety in the region.