Journalist killed in Pakistan's Mastung

Balochistan [Pakistan]September 5 (ANI): A local journalist working with a news agency was killed in Mastung region of Pakistan's Balochistan on Wednesday, Dawn reported.

Nisar Ahmed Lehri was on his way home when gunmen opened fire on him, killing him on the spot. Police arrived at the scene after receiving information about the incident and shifted the body to Nawab Raisani Memorial Hospital.

According to police, Nisar Ahmed Lehri was killed due to a tribal conflict over a land dispute. A senior police official said, “We are investigating the incident.” The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and the Balochistan Union of Journalists (BUJ) strongly condemned the killing of Nisar Ahmed Lehri, according to a Dawn report. The PFUJ and the BUJ called on the government to arrest the journalist's killers.

In separate statements, PFUJ President Afzal Butt, General Secretary Arshad Ansari and the BUJ President strongly criticised the Balochistan government's claims of protecting journalists, citing the number of journalists killed in the region over the years as evidence of its failure.

They stressed that the killing of Nisar Lehri, who also served as the press secretary of the Sarawan Press Club in Mastung, would increase fear among media persons in the province.

They stated: “It appears that both remote areas of Balochistan and major cities have become highly unsafe for media personnel.” They said the incident could have been prevented if the government had arrested and punished the perpetrators of previous journalist killings, according to the Dawn report.

They further said, “We demand that the government arrest all the killers, including those responsible for Lehri's murder.” In early August, a local journalist was killed in Ghotki district of Pakistan's Sindh, Geo News reported, citing police. Locals blame bandits for the killing of journalist Bachal Ghunio, Geo News reported.

According to police, the deceased was attacked while he was in his fields. The body of the journalist has been shifted to the Taluka headquarters' Ubuaro Hospital where investigations are currently underway.

Bachal Ghunio's family protested in front of the police commissioner's office in Mirpur Mathelo, demanding the arrest of the suspects, according to a Geo News report.

Speaking to Geo News, the minor son of the deceased journalist said there was enmity between his father and some members of the community. However, Ghunio was killed despite the matter being decided. He further stated that opponents had also targeted his father a few years ago.

When Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah took notice of the matter, he issued an order for immediate arrest of those responsible for the murder, Geo News reported. He also ordered intensification of action against bandits in the riverine area.

In early July, reporter Malik Hassan Zaib was shot dead by unknown assailants in Nowshera district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa while traveling with his brother.

On May 15, Ashfaq Ahmed Sial of Muzaffargarh was shot by two motorcyclists. Muhammad Siddique Mengal of Balochistan was killed in a bomb attack on May 3. (ANI)