Journalist laid to rest in Landi Kotal

Khalil Gibran Afridi, the slain journalist, was laid to rest in Landi Kotal, Khyber tribal district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, on Wednesday.

A sit-in was staged with the body of the deceased journalist on the Pak-Afghan highway before the funeral by the local residents and journalist community. Protesters demanded of the government, police and security forces to investigate the murder and punish the culprits.

Participants of the protest said there will be no compromise on the issue of law and order in the district.

They demanded Rs10 million in financial assistance for the heirs of the slain journalist. They also urged upon the government to bear the education expenses of the journalist’s children.

The protestors said that the responsibility of establishing order in the district lies with the government and the security forces but that local residents from now onwards will keep arms for their own protection.

Political leaders, tribal elders and journalists addressed the sit-in.

It may be recalled that Khyber News correspondent Khalil Jibran Afridi was shot dead by unidentified armed men in Mazarina, Sultan Khel village, around 9 pm on the second day of Eid.

According to local people, the slain journalist lay injured for two hours after the attack but no one was on hand to shift him to the hospital to save his life.

The protesters condemned the police and security forces for not reaching the spot on time.

On Wednesday, a protest was held on the Pak-Afghan highway by placing the body of the slain journalist on the road, where thousands of people participated.

President of Pakhtunkhwa Union of Journalists Shams Mohmand, General Secretary Ibrahim Shinwari, Qazi Fazlullah, former MPA Shafiq Sher Afridi, ANP leader Shah Hussain Shinwari, Amir Murad Hussain Afridi of Jamaat-e-Islami, Malik Darya Khan Afridi, Malik Masal Khan Shinwari, Shakir Afridi and PTM leader Aftab Shinwari addressed the rally.

They said that journalist Khalil Jibran was a potent voice of the region and a pioneer in social and welfare works. His death has created a great vacuum. The speakers added that security forces and police have failed miserably in establishing law and order in the district. They noted that journalists faced threats but no one was willing to provide them protection. Journalists’ representatives said that their community will hold protests across Pakistan on Thursday.

On Friday and Saturday, journalists of Khyber district will hold protests at Jamrud and Landi Kotal.

The speakers said that the third wave of terrorism has started in the area and the law and order situation is really bad. Locals and especially journalists are insecure but the government is not taking any action, they said.