Mastoi murder case: BUJ laments govt failure to capture criminals

Protesters staged a demonstration outside the Quetta press club

QUETTA: Members of Balochistan Union of Journalists (BUJ) took to the streets on Sunday to protest against the inability of law enforcing agencies to find perpetrators behind the killing of journalist Irshad Mastoi, who was gunned down last month.

Mastoi was gunned down, along with a trainee reporter and an accountant, in Quetta’s Kabir Building on August 28.

In a bid to force the government into arresting the culprits behind Mastoi’s killing, BUJ announced that it will close press clubs across the province.

Carrying placards and banners, the protesters marched through Manan Chowk, Mezaan Chowk, Shahra-e- Iqbal and later staged a demonstration outside the Quetta press club.

Sunday’s protest rally was headed by the BUJ president Irfan Saeed, Pakistan Federal Union Of Journalists  (PFUJ)’s vice president Saleem Shahid, Media Action Committee Chairman Shehzada Zulfiqar and Quetta Press Club’s President Razaur Rehman.

During the demonstration, they chanted slogans against the government for its failure to investigate incidents of targeted killings in the province.

“We will close the press clubs for a day to register our protest and highlight the threats journalists face in Balochistan,” BUJ president Irfan said, adding that journalists will intensify their protest if government does not take the issue seriously.

Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami chief Sirajul Haq also condemned the killing of journalists and expressed solidarity with the media community in the restive province.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 8^th, 2014.