QUETTA - Another journalist was shot dead on Sunday in Panjgur district of Balochistan, some 650 kilometres from Quetta.
Panjgur police officer Jahangir Baloch said that journalist Rehmatullah Abid was sitting in a barber’s shop for a haircut in Washbood area of Punjgur when unidentified armed assailants sprayed a volley of bullets on him. As a result, he received multiple wounds and died instantly. The assailants who were riding a motorbike fled after committing the crime,” police official said.
The police rushed to the spot and moved the body to District Headquarters Hospital Panjgur for autopsy. “Investigation is under way to ascertain the motive behind the murder of the journalist,” the police said.
Deceased Rehmatullah Abid was working with a private news channel and a local daily. According to his family sources, he had no enmity with anyone nor did he mention receiving any threat.
Balochistan Union of Journalists (BUJ) strongly condemned the murder of the journalist. Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani also took notice of the incident. He also announced Rs 1 million financial help for the family of the deceased.
It may be mentioned here that more than 18 journalists have fallen victim to target killings during the era of the present government in Balochistan. In 2007, only one journalist was killed and another wounded, but after 2008, the target killing of journalists increased alarmingly.
District Khuzdar remained the bloodiest for journalists where five journalists, including two presidents of the Khuzdar Press Club and one general secretary, have been killed. Two young sons of Khuzdar Press Club President Nadeem Gorgnari were killed last month.