Journalist shot dead in North Waziristan

The Express Tribune

A journalist from North Waziristan was killed by unidentified men while he was on his way home in Miranshah village on Wednesday. According to the initial details, a car with tinted windows intercepted Malik Mumtaz’s vehicle and opened fire, killing him on the spot. Mumtaz was a senior journalist working with The News International. Mumtaz covered the country’s tribal area for 20 years and his last few stories were related to the anti-polio drive in the region and the military operation. Mumtaz is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter. He was also the Chairman of the Miranshah Press Club, Geo News reported. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) condemned the murder of Mumtaz who was president of the local press club. “He was a good reporter and was serving tribal people, we condemn his killing and salute his services for tribal people,” TTP spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan told AFP by telephone from an undisclosed location. The TTP denied involvement in the killing. The Tribal Union of Journalists announced one week of mourning. Given the number of on-duty journalists killed in Pakistan, the country is known for being one of the deadliest places to report the news. As many as seven journalists were killed in Pakistan in 2012. Five of these journalists killed were gunned down in targeted attacks.