ISLAMABAD-Senior journalists, friends, relatives, politicians and workers of various print and media organisations during a condolence reference held at the National Press Club on Sunday paid rich tributes to the senior journalist of TheNation and Waqt TV Raja Assad Hameed and pledged to carry forward his mission. Speaking on the occasion, they not only recalled the attributes of the Shaheed journalist, who was brutally killed by some unidentified assailants at his doorstep on March 26, but also criticised the apathy of the government and failure of law-enforcing agencies in bringing the culprits to book. Justice (R) Tariq Mehmood who was the chief guest on the occasion said that he couldnt understand how someone could kill such a handsome, witty and innocent man. He said that it was the prime responsibility of the state to protect lives and properties of citizens. He advised the journalists union to file appeal in the Supreme Court and would extend his support to nab Raja Assads murderers. He also criticised law-enforcing agencies and said that their officials are in the habit they would be called in by the courts and directed to perform their duty. Resident Editor of TheNation Islamabad Mehmood Hamdani said when the prevailing system couldnt apprehend the murderers of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, how could the murderers of common perople be nabbed. He lamented that the authorities promise regarding extending justice to the aggrieved family could not be fulfilled so far. Minorities leader Julius Salik paid glowing tributes to Shaheed journalist Assad Hameed and said history would always remember sacrifices given by journalists for the cause of rule of law and prosperity in the country. General Secretary Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) Mazhar Abbas said as many as 45 journalists lost their precious lives since 2000, but neither the dictatorial regime nor the democratic governments could identify murderers of any one. Rahat Quddosi, a political leader, said Raja Assad Hameed was a hardworking and honest journalist and a sincere and nice friend. He urged the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take suo motto notice of his brutal murder. Raja Assads brother Raja Amjad Hameed thanked the journalists fraternity, who, he said, had raised voice for their colleague on all forums. He said that majority of the government officials visited them but it came out to be a mere photo session, as, he said, they didnt keep their words. He said that government didnt fulfill its promise regarding formation of three commissions for probing into the incident. Instead, he said, an ASI level police official was carrying out the investigations. He further said that some influential people were sabotaging the investigations of his brothers murder, saying the SHO and the SP who had examined the crime scene had been transferred. He appealed to the Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif to expose those who were sabotaging the probe. He further said that he was being terrorised so that he might not pursue the case. He said if the government didnt keep its word Assads family would return the compensation they received from the government. President National Press Club Tariq Chaudhry said journalists could not force the government to nab the murderers of Raja Assad Hameed and therefore they felt terribly owed to their slain colleague since his murderers were still at large. He said that RIUJ had constituted a committee to take up the issue on highest level.