PESHAWAR/ABBOTTABAD: Journalists in different areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa stages rallies on Monday to condemn the murder of their colleague Bakhsheesh Elahi.

The protesting members of Khyber Union of Journalists and Peshawar Press Club demanded early arrest of the killers of their senior colleague, who was killed in Haripur.

The participants of the rally in Peshawar were holding banners and placards inscribed with demands about arrest of the killers and financial support for the heirs of the slain journalist. They also chanted slogans against the assailants and sought protection for journalists.

Speaking on the occasion, KhUJ president Saiful Islam Saifi urged government to take the case serious, arrest the killers and announce special package for family of the deceased journalist.

Set 24-hour deadline for arrest of Bakhsheesh Elahi’s killers

PPC general secretary Shahabuddin said that journalism was considered fourth pillar of the state but it was not given due status. He demanded probe into the case so that the real culprits could be awarded punishment.

Waqas Shah, Ziaul Haq and Hazrat Khan Mohmand also spoke on the occasion and condemned the assassination of the journalist.

Meanwhile, journalists staged walkout from press gallery of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly against the murder of their colleague. They demanded of the government to take appropriate steps for protection of journalists and approve a reasonable compensation package for family of the slain journalist.

However, the journalists called off their protest on request of MPA from Haripur Akbar Ayub, who assured them that government was determined to arrest the killers.

The journalists in Abbottabad and Havelian also condemned the murder of Baksheesh Elahi. The protest rally in Abbottabad was also addressed by tehsil nazim, naib nazim and former president of district bar association.

The rally was organised by Abbottabad Union of Journalists and Abbottabad Press Club. The protesters marched from press club to office of deputy commissioner. Carrying banners and placards, they were chanting slogans against the murder of their colleague. Shahid Chudhary, president APC, Sardar Naveed Alam, president AUJ, Sardar Shafique Ahmed, member PFUJ, Saqib Khan, general secretary AUJ, demanded early arrest of killers and compensation for the family of the deceased. They asked government to make arrangements for security of journalists.

They set a deadline of 24 hours for the arrest of the killers and threatened to expand their protest after expiry of the deadline.

Havelian Press Club and Havelian Union of Journalists also held a protest meeting that was addressed by office-bearers of both the bodies. Besides journalists, the meeting was also attended by members of local government and civil society organisations.

Published in Dawn, June 13th, 2017