Slain scribe's son finds Malik hard to meet
JournalismPakistan.com | Published: 16 November 2012
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Haroon Siraj, son of a slain journalist, faces difficulties in meeting Minister Rehman Malik regarding a presidential award for his father. Despite multiple attempts, he was denied access but received encouragement to try at Malik's residence.Summary
ISLAMABAD: Haroon Siraj, son of a senior journalist slain by the Taliban over five years ago in Swat, has a had a tough time trying to meet Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik in connection with a presidential award he announced for his father.
Talking to JournalismPakistan.com, Haroon said he was not only denied access to the minister's Islamabad office but also advised not to bother visiting again. However, the minister's staff including his personal secretary and media director told him to try and see the minister at his residence. All of Haroon's efforts proved in vain though.
Rehman Malik announced the President’s Award for Pride of Performance for Siraj ud Din, a correspondent of The Nation, and three other journalists killed in the valley - Musa Khan Khel, Qari Muhammad Shoaib and Abdul Aziz Shaheen.
The minister made this announcement while on a visit to Swat on October 16.
Haroon, himself a journalist, said his father Siraj, was attending the funeral prayers of Deputy Superintendent of Police Javaid Iqbal when a Taliban bomber blew himself up killing 70 people, five of them belonging to their family. Musa of Geo TV was killed by gunmen in Swat hours after he covered a peace march led by a hardline cleric in 2009 while Qari Shoaib, a reporter with a local newspaper was mistakenly gunned down in Mingora as he headed home from work.
On the other hand reporter Abdul Aziz, kidnapped by the Taliban, got killed when the security forces launched an attack on the militants in Matta.
Key Points
- Haroon Siraj is the son of journalist Siraj ud Din, killed by the Taliban over five years ago.
- Rehman Malik announced a presidential award for Siraj ud Din after his visit to Swat.
- Haroon struggled to meet Malik, facing obstacles in accessing his office and residence.
- The award also honors other journalists killed in Swat, including Musa Khan Khel and Qari Muhammad Shoaib.
- Siraj was killed during a Taliban bombing at a police funeral, which affected his family severely.
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