Journalists mourn Hayatullah’s death nationwide, demand justice

ISLAMABAD: Black Day was observed nation-wide on Monday to condemn the barbarous killing of tribal journalist Hayatullah Khan in North Waziristan at the call of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ).

Members of the auxiliary organizations of PFUJ held protest demonstration wearing black-bands on their arms. Protest rallies were taken out and Parliament and Provincial Assembly meetings were boycotted.

A widely attended protest demonstration was held in front of the Parliament House organized by Rawalpindi/ Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ). Later on with the mutual deliberations journalist belonging to PFUJ, RIUJ and Parliamentary Press Gallery announced total boycott of the proceedings of the assembly during the budget meeting.

They also announced boycott of weekly foreign office meeting as well.

As part of nation-wide wave of resentment over the mysterious killing of the tribal journalist, journalists held protest demonstrations in South Waziristan, Nurkot, Takht Bhai, Basham and Sargodha.

Tribal union of journalists of the journalist belonging to the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) observed black day on Monday and staged protest rallies.

They demanded immediate arrest of the culprits behind the killing and asked for increased security arrangements for the journalists working in the tribal belt.

Addressing the protest rallies journalists belonging to FATA and other local tribal elders lamented killing of four journalists in a span of last two years.

Mentioning of the killing of Allah Nur Wazir and Mir Nawab belonging to South Waziristan last year, killed tribal journalist Muhammad Naseer Afridi belonging to Darra-i-Adam Khel few months back the speakers strongly protest the recent barbarous killing.

Journalist Community of Takht Bhai Sub-Division too strongly condemned the killing of Hayatullah Dawar.

Lawyers’ community, Nazims, Labour Unions, Traders’ community and people from all the different walks of life all over the Tehsil join in hands with the area journalists’ community to express their condemnation of the atrocious act.

Local journalists led by Chairman Takht Bhai Press Club, Javed Alam Mehmand, Ibrahim Syed Yusufzai General Secretary, Senior Journalists Hidayat Mehmand, Akbar Khan Yusufzai, Haji Doost Muhammad Darwish and Wazirzada Amjad held protest march from Tehsil Campus Building till TMA Office.

District Narowal press club too observed black day and demanded the government to take immediate measures for ensuring security to the journalists.

A special meeting of Pakistan Federal Union of Correspondents headed by Chairman Shujaat Ali Khan was held that termed the killing synonymous to a blow on freedom of press and a slap on the face of the present government. The meeting was widely attended by journalists.

Journalists’ community in Sargodha boycotted the Tehsil Council Sargodha meeting held at the Jinnah Hall and demonstrated in protest wearing black armbands.

Journalist led by President local press club Muhammad Ashraf Nadeem raised slogans against the killing at a protest demonstration that was attended by all members of Tehsil council including the opposition members.

Similar protest demonstrations and show of resentment to the murder of Hayatullah Khan were observed nationwide. Journalist communities and organizations urged government to bring the culprits behind the heinous act to justice forthwith.