MINGORA, Feb 19: Musa Khankhel, the journalist gunned down in Swat on Wednesday, was laid to rest in his native town of Malokabad on Thursday.

A large number of people belonging to all walks of life attended the funeral. They called for stern action against the killers.

Khankhel was kidnapped from Matta while covering the ‘peace march’ of TNSM chief Maulana Sufi Mohammad and his bullet-riddled body was found in Detpani, near Chuprial.

No group has so far claimed responsibility for Khankhel’s murder.

A local commander of Taliban, Mehmood Khan, told Dawn on phone from an unspecified place that his group had no role in Khankhel’s murder. He said Taliban considered him as a professional journalist who played an “active role” during the crisis in Swat.

He said the elements behind the murder would be identified soon and tried in Taliban courts in accordance with “Islamic laws”. It was a handiwork of elements who didn’t want peace in the region, he added.

Compensation

Jang Group, the employer of Musa Khankhel, has announced a compensation of Rs1 million for his family. Khankhel was a correspondent for Geo TV and The News in Swat.

According to APP, President Asif Ali Zardari announced a compensation of Rs500,000 for the family.

The president condoled with the family and directed the provincial government to nab the killers.

In a separate statement, the NWFP government has also announced a compensation of Rs300,000.

Provincial Information Minster Mian Iftikhar Hussain, and the NWFP government’s peace envoy, Afrasiab Khattak, visited Mingora on Thursday to review the situation in Swat.

The minister termed the journalist’s murder an indirect attack on the government.