Journalists boycott Balochistan Assembly to protest against killing of media workers

Journalists have called boycott of assembly proceedings and govt events till measures are taken to arrest culprits

QUETTA: Journalists boycotted coverage of Balochistan Assembly proceedings on Saturday to register their protest against the killings of three media workers of Online News agency in Quetta.

Senior journalist Irshad Mastoi, reporter Mohammed Rasul Khajak and accountant Mohammed Younus were gunned down in their office on the Jinnah Roadin Quetta on Wednesday.

On Saturday, journalists staged a walk-out from the press gallery and staged a sit-in outside the Balochistan Assembly building.

The sit-in continued for more than two hours; however, legislators ignored the protest, while the assembly speaker went ahead with the session.

Protesters wore black armbands to observe the black day announced by the Balochistan Union of Journalists (BUJ) and raised slogans against the government for their failure to protect the life and property of people.

“At least 43 journalists have been killed in the line of duty in Balochistan during the past six to seven years,” said Vice President of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists Saleem Shahid. “The government does not have any writ in Balochistan,” he added.

President of the BUJ and the protesting journalists criticised the government for its ‘apathetic attitude’.

They decided to not report assembly proceedings or government events until measures are taken for the arrest of the culprits involved in the killings.

“There will be a complete boycott of the government of Balochistan,” BUJ announced.