The killing of journalist Shujaat Bukhari has left many questions unanswered in India-occupied Kashmir
KARACHI: The killing of journalist Shujaat Bukhari has left many questions unanswered in India-occupied Kashmir. Bukhari was not only a journalist but also an activist who advocated for peace through joint efforts from both Pakistan and India.
The time of his assassination also came when the United Nations released its report that highlighted human rights violations by the Indian forces, leaving the BJP government to answer some tough questions. But his killing by unidentified men in broad daylight snatched the limelight away from the report and atrocities being committed by Indian forces to the difficulties journalists in Srinagar face.
This brutal murder has also raised fear among the journalist community in the Kashmir Valley that already works through the many restrictions that the Indian forces have imposed. It would be no surprise that many could now choose to resort to self-censorship, staying away from ruffling the wrong feathers out of fear of being murdered. The benefit of this would be with none other than the Indian forces who continue to traumatise the Kashmiri people.
Once again, while India and Pakistan struggle to resolve the Kashmir dispute the valley and its people suffer tremendously.
Shahina Aslam
Published in The Express Tribune, June 21st, 2018.
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