August 31, 2008	Sunday	Sha'aban 28, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Aug 30: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has condemned the killing of a journalist who it said died in an attack on a Taliban hideout in Swat on Friday.

Abdul Aziz, 32, who worked for Daily Azadi, was kidnapped three days ago by the Taliban and kept in a private jail, the PFUJ said.

“The government appears to be non-serious towards security issues confronting journalists, particularly in the tribal areas. Many (journalists) are getting life threats and some even got letters to leave their areas and avoid working for news agencies,” it said.

Referring to a statement of federal Information Minister Sherry Rehman that media should not report statements of outlawed bodies, the PFUJ said: “If the outlawed bodies take the responsibility for any incident, it’s our responsibility to report.

“Glorifying the alleged militants as hero is one thing and reporting the event is another. Media around the world report statements of top Al Qaeda leaders. Even some world leaders use these statements for their own benefit. There is no bar on the media in any part of the world.”