Khyber News correspondent Khalil Jibran murdered in Landi Kotal

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 18 June 2024

ISLAMABAD— In a tragic incident highlighting the escalating dangers faced by journalists in Pakistan, Khalil Jibran, a correspondent for Khyber News Television, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in the Landi Kotal Tehsil of District Khyber Tuesday evening.

According to reports, Jibran, who was also a former president of the Landi Kotal Press Club, was returning to his home in the Sultankhel area near the Pak-Afghan border in his car with a lawyer when their vehicle was intercepted by men on a motorbike. The attackers forced Jibran to disembark and then fatally shot him. The lawyer accompanying him was injured during the attack and is receiving medical treatment.

Colleagues and friends remember Jibran as a dedicated journalist who was committed to his profession despite the dangers. He had reportedly received multiple threats before this incident, a fact highlighted by journalist bodies who had called attention to the threats against him.

This tragic event underscores the perilous environment in which journalists operate in Pakistan, where threats and violence against media professionals are not uncommon. The murder of Khalil Jibran is a stark reminder of the need for greater protection and support for journalists, particularly those working in conflict-prone areas.

Journalist organizations and press freedom advocates are calling for a thorough investigation into Jibran's murder and for measures to be put in place to ensure the safety of journalists in the region.