PESHAWAR, July 9: Speakers at a condolence reference here on Monday expressed grave concern over the killings of human rights activists and journalists in Federally Administered Tribal Areas and demanded early arrest of the killers of Farida Afridi.

Farida Afridi, who was working with an NGO Sawaira in Khyber Agency, was shot dead on July 4 outside her residence in Hayatabad by unidentified assailants.

The condolence reference was arranged under the aegis of Pakhtunkhwa Civil Society Network and Tribal NGOs Consortium to pay tribute to Farida Afridi.

Qamar Naseem, Idrees Kamal, Zar Ali Khan, Allah Noor Afridi, Sherin Javed, Shagufta Hidayat, Shakeela Khan, Luqman Afridi, Nazeef Khan and Inamullah. They condemned the killings of workers of NGOs, journalists and volunteers of peace bodies and demanded of the government to arrest their killers and award them exemplary punishment.

They said that according to UN declarations the government was bound to provide protection to members of human rights organisations and to conduct inquiries into the murders of all slain civil society members and journalists.

The speakers also demanded compensation for the affected families and presidential awards for the slain workers.

The civil society members also held a candlelight vigil at Saddar Road’s park to pay homage to the deceased woman. Earlier, a protest camp was arranged by Aurat Foundation in collaboration with other organisations near the press club to condemn the murder of the civil society worker.

On the occasion, Minister for Information Mian Iftikhar Hussain strongly condemned the murder of Farida Afridi. He said that some anti-Islam elements were earning bad name for the country and religion by issuing death decrees against women, who were earning livelihood for their families.

He said that investigation into the case was underway and the culprits behind the heinous crime would be traced soon. He lamented that after attacking mosques, educational institutions and public places, militants started targeting working women.