PESHAWAR/MANSEHRA: The journalists held protest demonstrations in different districts against attack on the house of their colleague in Peshawar and killing of a photographer in Afghanistan.

In Peshawar, mediapersons staged a procession to protest hand grenade attack on the residence of journalist Jamshed Baghwan. They demanded arrest of the attackers.

Carrying banners and placards inscribed with demands for protection of mediapersons and arrest of the attackers, the protesting journalists were led by Khyber Union of Journalists (KhUJ) president Nisar Mehmood and Peshawar Press Club president Nasir Hussain.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Mehmood condemned the attack on the residence of Jamshed Baghwan and described it an attempt to gag journalists. He said that it was not the first ever incident but more than 100 mediapersons had lost their lives in line of duty across the country.

“The attackers, whoever they may be, can’t suppress our voice through such tactics because journalists are ready to tender sacrifices for fulfilling their professional duty at all costs without succumbing to any pressures,” the KhUJ president said.

He asked the provincial government to arrest the people involved in the attack. He said that they would launch a series of protest demonstrations if their demand was not met.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Hussain also condemned the attack and said that it was duty of the government to conduct inquiry into the matter and expose the attackers.He said that targeting journalists meant to silence the voice of society. In such a situation it was duty of the government to protect mediapersons, he added. He said that it was the second attack on the residence of Mr Baghwan.

In Mansehra, journalists took to streets to protest the killing of Anja Niedringhaus, a photojournalist who was killed in Afghanistan on April 4.

Chanting slogans in favour of press freedom, the journalists gathered outside Mansehra Press Club to condemn the killing of the photojournalist.

Speaking on the occasion, president of press club Shahzad Jahangiri, president of TV-Journalists Association Nisar Khan Swati and president of Mansehra Union of Journalists Akhlaq Ahmad condemned killing of Ms Niedringhaus.

Mr Jahangiri said that Ibrar Tanoli, a local photographer, was killed last month but his killers were still at large and police failed to arrest them.

Speaking on occasion Nisar Khan said that government failed to provide protection to journalists. “A large number of journalists are killed in the line of duty in the country but the government could not arrest killers of even a single mediaperson,” he said.