Radio journalist Zakia Khan escapes unhurt in acid attack

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 28 July 2022

Zakia Khan, a journalist with Suno FM 96, was targeted in an acid attack in Peshawar. Authorities and journalist unions are demanding justice and increased protections.

Summary

PESHAWAR—Unknown individuals assaulted female journalist Zakia Khan, associated with Suno FM 96 Radio, in Peshawar and tried to throw acid on her.

In a video statement, Zakia disclosed that unknown persons had attacked her in Gulbahar, a posh area of Peshawar.

According to her, the age of the attacker was around 18 years. "The attacker knocked at the door. As he opened the acid bottle to attack me, I managed to run and save myself," Zakia stated. She said that acid traces could still be found at the main gate of her house. "I have no enmity with anyone, and I am not aware of any conflict going on with anyone."

Freedom Network condemned the heinous crime and demanded justice. "The attack on woman journalist Zakia Khan in #Peshawar is shocking and #FreedomNetwork calls on authorities to bring perpetrators of crime to justice," it tweeted with the hashtag #JournalismIsNotACrime.

Khyber Union of Journalists (KhuJ) also strongly condemned the incident and termed it a failure of the government, especially the police and law-enforcement agencies, to maintain law and order. President Nasir Hussain and General Secretary Imran Yousafzai demanded the government take serious action to protect journalists.

Superintendent of Police City Atiq Shah and other officials visited the crime scene and collected pieces of evidence and CCTV footage.