JournalismPakistan.com
March 05, 2018

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has condemned the killing of a journalist in Rawalpindi on March 3 and demanded immediate arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators.

 Anjum Muneer Raja, a 40-year-old sub-editor with Islamabad-based Urdu daily Qaumi Pukaar was shot dead just before midnight on Bank Road, a high-security area near the Pakistan Army’s national headquarters, by unknown assailants while he was returning home after work. The motorcycle-borne assailants intercepted Raja’s motorcycle before firing six bullets. He died on the spot.

A first information report (FIR) of the incident has been registered on a complaint of the victim's maternal uncle and the police are investigating the case as an incident of targeted killing.

Raja, who also worked as a school teacher, is survived by his wife and a five-year-old son.

Raja is the first journalist killed in Pakistan in 2018. According to IFJ Killed List, Pakistan recorded the killing of four journalists in 2017.

The IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said: “The IFJ condemns the killing of journalist Anjum Muneer Raja in Rawalpindi, Pakistan and demands immediate arrest and prosecution of those involved to ensure justice to the slain journalist. The killing of a journalist in a high-security zone shows that Pakistan continues to be fatal for journalists with the government’s failure to ensure safety. The IFJ also urges the Pakistani government to create a safe working environment for journalists by punishing the killers of journalists.” – IFJ media release