By Shaheen Buneri

PESHAWAR, May 23 — In a fresh row of violence unidentified assailants Thursday killed Muhammad Ibrahim Khan, a senior TV journalist while he was returning to his home town after interviewing Moulvi Omar, spokesman of Pakistan Taliban Movement in Pakistan Bajaur Tribal Agency.

Muhammad Ibrahim was working for Express TV and Daily Express in Bajaur Agency for the last six years and was a renowned journalist of the area.

Officials say that the incident happened in Inayat Kali of restive Bajaur Agency along the Pak-Afghan border where Taliban have established their basis and dominate the whole area under the leadership of Moulvi Faqir Muhammad.

Muhammad Jamil, assistant political agent of Bajaur Agency, told journalists that Muhammad Ibrahim Khan was shot dead by unidentified assailants on Inayat Kali Bypass while he was returning back on his motorcycle.

“The killers have also taken his camera, video-tapes and motorcycle,” the official added.

Relatives of the slain journalist say that Muhammad Ibrahim Khan had no personal enmity with any person in the area.

Jamshid Baghwan, bureau chief of Express TV, says that Ibrahim had informed him of his scheduled interview with Taliban spokesman.

“At this juncture we can’t say who is responsible for his murder,” he sighed.

Rahman Malik, Pakistan interior ministry advisor and Sheri Rahman, the minister for information, have expressed their deep shock over the death of Ibrahim Khan and directed the law enforcement authorities to arrest his killers within 48 hours.

In the wake of raising militancy in Pakistan, tribal belt life has become very risky for journalists working there. Sometimes they become the victims between the conflict between militants and security forces.

Talat Hussain, chief executive of News and Current Affairs Pakistan Aaj TV, told a private TV channel that “journalists working in tribal areas are really brave. They keep the world informed at the expense of their own lives. It is high time for the government and owners of TV channels to protect journalists working in the turbulent tribal areas,” he maintained.

Pakistan journalists’ bodies including Khyber Union of Journalists Peshawar and Peshawar Press Club today mourn the death of their colleague and have planned protest demonstrations in different parts of the country.

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists 2007 Report in both Pakistan and Sri Lanka, five journalists were killed for their work. Suicide bombers caused three of the five deaths in Pakistan, including the death of Muhammad Arif of ARY One World TV, who was among the 139 people killed when bombs exploded during the homecoming of the late former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

*Shaheen Buneri is a TV and online journalist from Peshawar Pakistan. Email: bagrampost@gmail.com.