Freedom of speech?: London Post journalist found dead in Lahore
Zahid Qureshi, brother of Faisal Qureshi, and his cousin Shahzad found Faisal’s body at around 2 am on Friday from his residence in Lahore’s Johar Town. Police have taken the body into custody for an autopsy and to conduct an investigation.
Zahid said he called his brother several times on Thursday night and found Faisal’s phone switched off which immediately set off the alarm bells, considering the threats Faisal had been receiving.
When he rushed over to his brother’s house, Zahid says, he found traces of blood on the gate. He immediately notified the police.
According to the FIR registered by Zahid, Faisal’s body bore torture marks when it was recovered, while his throat had been slit.
Faisal was the youngest of four brothers and had been working forThe London Post from Lahore. A case has been registered against the unidentified culprits with the Johar Town police.
The London Post had published an article regarding Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain escaping to South Africa.
Dr Shahid Qureshi, Editor of The London Post, demanded the Pakistan government protection for his paper staff in Pakistan and full investigation into Faisal’s murder.
Speaking exclusively to The Express Tribune, Shahid said Scotland Yard’s assistance could be sought in the investigation.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 8th, 2011.
COMMENTS (42)
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I have no words for condolence, but I can understand the feeling of victim's family.
Brother of Assassinated Journalist Syed Saleem Shahzad
@Amjad Malik:
Have suo-moto actions taken by the chief justice of pakistan over the killings and kidnappings of journalists in past yielded results?
The poor chief justicce is now busy in saving his seat and protecting himself after the retirement. You know what I mean?
Mussarat
What sort of journalism are you following. Your paper has started to appear more like an individual's blog rather a complete newspaper. Money just cannot buy everything.
@Y Khan: I do NOT condone or support any violence towards anyone.
The ambiguity and lack of authenticity behind such websites like "The London Post" make me also question the facts behind Faisal Qureshi's murder. The whole "Altaf escaping to South Africa" story was the most bogus piece of false tabloid garbage in recent times.
We should not jump to conclusions.
@fouzia: i agree with fauzia
sham electronic media
I better keep quite...
@Pakistani:
Not necessary. Newspapers or news agencies from any part of the world hire journalists everywhere and they can be based anywhere. Nowadays pattern of journalim has completely changed. Even world's largely circulated newspaper or any prestigious agency can be based anywhere. Their Headquarters might be in the country of their origin.
There is nothing to worry about whether London-post was based in Lahore or New Delhi, we should pray for the journalist of the Post and others who killed in past in search of truth. The horrible aspect of cold-blood murders is that not a single killer of unfortunate journalists have been traced so far that speaks of insensivity of government in power.
Mussarat
its so sad.. i think there is no protection of a civil man.. men moving in benz, mark-II, paradoz... having full security .. but what about a noble person .. very sad .. very very very sad.. i have no words for faisal.. Allah garat kar de un ko jo Ma ka kaleja sar dete.. jo bahno k daman ujar dete..
Sad to learn that you can be killed for publishing something that is not liked by an individual or a party. As someone has already written the question is not whether the paper is genuine, but the question is, why the price of criticism is death?
@M Ali Khan
You are talking about Ahmed Qureishi in the links (cpyala and ahmedqureishi.com) who is not the same as Dr Shahid Qureishi.
I strongly condemn this brutality in Pakistan. When Pakistani awaam will stand against such atrocities in the country, only then we'll be able to bring peace in Pakistan.
is there any law in Pakistan? who is responsible for the protection of life of a common man? he was journalist. he didn,t use to carry guns with him. all he had were his laptop & pens. ain,t it bruetality? where is Govt????
might is right.................................................no one is here to ask about all this..............
It's Horrible .... We Karwan e Fikar UK condemn this act of terrorism. The whole Journalist community must Jointly expose the truth behind it & should insist CM Punjab Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif as well as Ch. Iftikhar Chief Justice of Pakistan to take necessary action providing with all the evidences of this brutality. Our condolence filled with sorrow to Brother Shahid Qureshi & whole family of Faisal Qureshi.
ShakirQureshi, Chairman, Karwan e Fikar - UK.
The site has no address names or contact info whatsoever. For this to be true they must have a stronger intelligence network than CIA and ISI. Now journalist in Karachi who did the same stay alive e.g. Waqt News, Dawn. However, this unknown person 1500km away from the stronghold of MQM in heart of Lahore is supposedly targeted by MQM. Either MQM is now strongest armed force of Pakistan or journalism standards of Pakistan are going down fast, down the drain. Pathetic.
Stop making statements from England.. If you want to do something come to Pakistan.
no matter London Post Exists or not but the same issue was also raised in the press conference of Mirza. unfortunately, this is happening & happening in vain. the Civil Society is also silent on many incidents, which we never expected them to remain for a single moment.
Killing someone for voicing their views no matter how unpalatable or even false only takes us far away from being human and whatever remains of civilization in the world today particularly Pakistan. No words can suffice to condemn this despicable act while nurturing the hope that this sacrifice may be the last to jolt our common humanity and realize that in the untimely death of this person and all others, we have, everyone of us died a little.The perpetrator while already totally dehumanized has succeeded in dehumanizing everyone to an extent.Let us hope the light at the end of the tunnel is still on!
Jamat e Islami finally done its job...
Chief Justice must take notice of Journalist Faisal Qureshi’s murder PR: 7/10/2011 We at the Association of Pakistani Lawyers (APL) along with fellow Judges, Solicitors, Barristers as well as members of respective regional Bars and ex pat members of APL jointly condemn and express our deep sorrow and dismay at the murder of a Lahore based journalist ‘Faisal Qureshi’ brother of the Chief Editor of the London post Dr Shahid Qureshi on 6 October 2011. Our thoughts are with those who have lost their loved one in the line of duty, and we strongly condemn the target killings of journalists in Pakistan, and condemn all those tactics to deter and intimidate the work of investigative journalism. Media plays a pivotal role in giving information as well as keeping the nation aware of all the happenings in the surroundings as well as making executive accountable to the nation especially public representatives. Seeing the killing of Wali khan Babar, Saleem Shehzad, and treatment of Umar Cheema recently and now the murder of Faisal Qureshi supports the overall claims that Govt of Pakistan is failing fast in protecting the journalist community who are dying in the line of duty. Dr Qureshi is a renowned journalist writing frequently his investigative reports on politics, corruption, terrorism and law and order situation in Pakistan and if people disagree with his work, they may resort to complain, claim and or challenge in the higher courts for libel but we will not tolerate dictation of journalists through’ bullets’ as APL strongly reject that line of intimidation whether of judiciary, lawyers and or journalist community. APL jointly demand a judicial enquiry into this latest killing headed by a high court judge and a time frame probe to bring those to account who has tried to spread terror in Lahore. Overall, History is in the making and we congratulate the media community on their contribution in nation building. Amjad Malik, MA, LLM Solicitor-Advocate of the Supreme Court of England and Wales Life Member SCBA (Pakistan) Chair Association of Pakistani Lawyers (UK) Friday, October 07,
Where are the politicians, the pro-US commentators, even Hillary Clinton and Mike Mullen who exploited Saleem Shazad's murder by his contacts in Al-Qaeda and TTP simply because it provided an opportunity to malign our military? Will they open their mouth when 'elected' and 'democratic' politicians murder Pakistanis with impunity?
@M Ali Khan: It is not question whether a news if bogus or not but it's question of one person's life.If he was targeted by MQM it should be eye opener for Journalist community to register their case strongly. Alas!! the Journalist community could not succeed to expose the killers of Wali babar shaheed then what else they can do for this poor Journalist.
Shame!
Is this the London Post ? http://www.thelondonpost.net/
Where is the journalist community; isnt it an attack on free media?
@M Ali Khan.....even if it is a bogus newspaper does it mean that its reporter should be brutally killed? Shame on your sir!
As far as I know, there is no such newspaper called "the London post." ET should verify the accuracy of its reports
none of the tv channels are covering the death of their journalist colleague while they gave hundreds of hours of coverage to saleem shahzad's death.
The London Post is a bogus website/blog with bogus writers pandering to right-wing nonsense
http://cafepyala.blogspot.com/2010/11/connecting-dots.html
http://tribune.com.pk/story/91026/purveyors-of-fiction/
That's brave of you to name the political party most likely to be involved. Also a strong message to them that they can never terrorize journalists in not to speaking the truth.
R.I.P sir, I and all Pakistanis salute you!
Why doesnt Tribune mention that this so-called 'news' about Altaf Hussain's escape to South Africa and his subsequent arrest were denied by the British Government and later Altaf himself appeared on TV.
London Post isnt even a newspaper. Just an online blog
Is this really honest journalism by Tribune?
Astonishingly, this all happened in Lahore where Khadim-e-Aala always cry for his good governance, if this is what he calls good governance. The crime is to the level it never been in Punjab. Khadim-e-Aala relieve some security personnel and let them do their duty of public protection. If 1000 elite commandos will safeguard the raiwind state then who will protect public
Is "London Post" - Pakistan based? Weird.
and then there comes the verdict of supreme court. they need references to act. what one can say about all this.