Journalists demand UN probe into Shujaat murder

Stage protest in front of IHC, UN Office

MUZAFFARABAD: Journalist from across Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Wednesday staged demonstrations in front of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad to protest against the brutal killing of prominent journalist Shujaat Bukhari in Srinagar.

They also handed over a memorandum to the United Nations Military Observer Group for India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) stationed in Rawalpindi and demanded a UN probe into the gruesome murder.

Shujaat Bukhari, the editor of Rising Kashmir, one of the region's leading newspapers, was killed last Tuesday in Srinagar as he was leaving the office in downtown Srinagar, when the gunmen attacked his car.



Members of different journalist bodies and press clubs from all the ten districts of AJK assembled at the National Press Club in Islamabad and later proceeded to the Indian High Commission and UNMOGIP office to hand over a memorandum.

Calling for a high-level investigation under the UN into the targeted killing of the journalist, the protestors led by Central Press Club Muzaffarabad President Syed Abrar Haider and president TV Journalist Association Muhammad Arif Urfi presented the memorandum to the Resident Coordinator of the UNMOGIP.

The memorandum addressed to UN Secretary General António Guterres expressed grave concern over increasing military escalation between India and Pakistan along the Line of Control and deteriorating human rights situation in Indian occupied Kashmir.



The journalist bodies blamed India for gagging the voice of the oppressed people of Jammu and Kashmir by targeting the independent journalist in the held valley.

Earlier the journalists holding placards and banners raised vociferous slogans against India and demanded protection of the journalists in the Indian Occupied Kashmiri.

Addressing the protesters, President Central Press Club Muzaffarabad Syed Abrar Haider Shah, representatives of different journalists’ bodies including Sajjad Mir, Raja Shujaat Hussain, Tariq Naqash and other demanded immediate end to oppression and high-handedness on the part of Indian forces and holding of plebiscite to determine the future of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.