KHYBER: Speakers at the first death anniversary of journalist Khalil Jibran on Tuesday expressed serious concern over the persistent delay in the investigation of his murder.

Organised by the Landi Kotal Press Club, the gathering was well attended by representatives of different political parties and local government, civil society activists and mediapersons.

Speakers alleged that the police had failed to make any positive headway in identifying the miscreants involved in the killing of Khalil Jibran, who was martyred on June 17, 2024.

While paying tribute to services of the journalist, they termed him an ardent campaigner of peace and development, besides being a social activist working tirelessly for the promotion of education, especially girls education, and for preserving the local environment.

“Khalil Jibran didn’t give up his brave reporting and helped the needy people of his community despite facing threats, ultimately losing his life in his struggle,” they said.

The speakers stressed the need of carrying forward his mission.

The speakers also expressed their dismay over the authorities’ failure to investigate the murder cases of other 18 tribal journalists during the last two decades. They demanded foolproof security for all the journalists reporting from the merged districts.

GOODS VEHICLES LOOTED: A group of unknown armed robbers looted over a dozen Afghanistan-bound loaded vehicles on the main Peshawar-Torkham Highway during the last three to four days.

Drivers carrying trade goods imported under the Afghan Transit Trade complained a group of at least six armed robbers clad in police uniform intercepted their vehicles and robbed them at gunpoint.

They said so far at least 12 vehicles and a couple of private car owners were targeted in Lala Cheena, which falls under the Ali Masjid police station.

Most of these incidents occurred at midnight with cops mostly staying inside police stations as instructed by their higher officials due to security reasons.

Transporters alleged that the Ali Masjid police refused to register their complaint about the repeated robberies. They said robbers snatched their mobile phones and cash after forcing their vehicles to halt at gunpoint.

They demanded establishment of checkposts on the troubled points alongside regular police patrolling of the entire highway.

Khyber district police officer Rao Mazhar Iqbal did not respond to Dawn queries about the robbery incidents.

Published in Dawn, June 18th, 2025