The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has asked Pakistan to investigate the fatal shooting of a local journalist in the country's southwest.

In a statement, the media watchdog Saturday demanded action against those responsible for the killing of 37-year-old Mohammad Jan, who was returning home late Thursday night in Kalat area when targeted by unidentified assailants.

The journalist had worked for the Urdu-language daily Qudrat and was teaching at a school.

No group claimed responsibility for the killing, but Pakistan is considered one of the deadliest countries for journalists. According to the watchdog, 59 journalists have been killed in Pakistan from 1992 to 2016.

Earlier, Balochistan Union of Journalists and Quetta Press Club office-bearers had also condemned the journalist’s killing and asked the government to arrest the culprits without any delay.

Over 40 journalists, including TV cameramen, have lost their lives in different areas of Balochistan in targeted killing and suicide bombings over the past 10 years.