IFJ urges action after seventh journalist killed in Pakistan this year

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published last year

SYDNEY—The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has strongly condemned the killing of journalist Khalil Jibran in Landi Kotal, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa this week.

IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger stated, "The IFJ strongly condemns the killing of journalist Khalil Jibran. The death of seven journalists in the first six months of 2024 must serve as a wake-up call to Pakistani authorities to implement and enforce protections for the media. Jibran's killing must be met with an immediate and thorough investigation from authorities."

The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) echoed this sentiment, calling for immediate arrests and a thorough investigation into the attack, as well as compensation for Jibran's family.

On June 18, Khyber News journalist and former President of the Landi Kotal Press Club Khalil Jibran was fatally shot while traveling home from a dinner party. According to law enforcement and Jibran's family, he was attacked near his home in the Sultan Khel district by two armed men who stopped his vehicle, ordered him and his companions out, and then opened fire on Jibran before fleeing the scene. Jibran died before receiving medical care. His companion, lawyer Sajjad Khan, suffered minor injuries while hiding nearby.

Jibran's body was taken to the District Headquarters Hospital in Landi Kotal for a post-mortem, which revealed he had been shot 19 times and had suffered fractures in his arm. Police noted that Jibran had received threats from terrorists prior to his killing, but no group has claimed responsibility. A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against the unknown assailants under murder and terrorism provisions.

The slain journalist was buried in his native village Sultan Khel, where a protest demonstration before his funeral condemned the killing and demanded action against the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan activists allegedly responsible. Demonstrators also called for compensation and free education for Jibran’s six surviving children.

Jibran is the seventh journalist killed in 2024. Previous victims include Khyber Pakhtunkhwa journalist Kamran Dawar, Balochistan journalist Muhammad Siddique Mengal, Punjabi journalists Mehar Ashfaq Siyal and Sagheer Ahmed Laar, and Sindh journalist Nasrullah Gadani.

The IFJ and PFUJ urge Pakistani authorities to ensure that those responsible for these attacks do not escape with impunity and to enforce stronger protections for the media to prevent further tragedies.—An IFJ media release