LAHORE, Aug 27 The South Asia Media Commission (SAMC) has expressed outrage at the recent killing of two journalists, one Afghan and the other Pakistani, in Pakistan.

Janullah Hashimzada, bureau chief of Afghanistan's Shamshad Television in Peshawar and known for his critical reporting on the Taliban, was shot dead in Khyber Pass near the town of Jamrud in the Khyber tribal district.

His colleague, Ali Khan, was seriously injured in the attack.

On Aug 17, Aaj TV correspondent Sadiq Bacha Khan was gunned down on his way to work in Mardan, a town in the restive Northwest Frontier Province. Khan was shot at least 15 times.

“These were purely target killings for being critical of the Taliban. The killings highlight the perils of reporting from such a dangerous part of the world for journalists,” SAMC President N. Ram and Secretary-General Najam Sethi said in a statement.

“The Pakistani government should transparently investigate the murder and bring to justice the perpetrators of the murders so that the killers of journalists understand they cannot operate with impunity,” said the statement issued to the media by Regional Coordinator Husain Naqi.