Karachi Journalists on Friday staged demonstrations and took out processions to condemn the target killing of Geo News reporter Wali Khan Babar and press the government for the arrest of his murderers. A large number of journalists from the Jang Group and other media organisations took out a rally from the Karachi Press Club (KPC) and later assembled near the Sindh Assembly. Some political figures — including Faisal Sabzwari, Waseem Akhtar and Haider Abbas — also participated in the rally. Speaking on the occasion, Bureau Chief of Geo News Faysal Aziz Khan said no government official had contacted them since the killing of their young correspondent. “No one from the government has approached us regarding the incident. Also, no senior police officials are ready to tell the media about the murderers of Babar and explain the details of the incident.” He called for the arrest of the people behind the murder and said they should be given strict punishment. Condemning the tragic murder of the reporter, President Karachi Union of Journalists Khursheed Abbasi said the government should be ashamed of itself as it had failed to arrest the criminals involved in targeting journalists across the country. “Last year, in Sindh alone, around a dozen journalists were killed in the line of fire. This year, terrorists targeted this brave and unbiased reporter. What is the government doing?” The intolerant elements, he said, did not appreciate the media’s efforts to highlight the issues being faced by the common man. Moving scenes were witnessed on the occasion, as colleagues of the slain journalist chanted slogans with teary eyes — ‘Wali tera khoon, Inquilab laye gaa’ and ‘Zinda hai Sahafi’. Prominent journalist and General Secretary of the Association of Television Journalists Fahim Siddiqui — who himself became a victim of terrorism in 2009 — said that journalists would not accept any bogus report by the authorities on the murder. “We all know that Wali Babar was targeted and that the unfortunate incident was no act of robbery, as five bullets were pumped into his head.” He said the young reporter was punished for speaking the truth. “The killing of Babar is no small incident. He was a brave and a professional reporter. I remember some political activists threatening him over covering a protest. The brave reporter had replied that he was only performing his duty.” Earlier, at the KPC, senior journalists paid tributes to the slain reporter, and condemned the incident. Amongst those who spoke were President KPC Tahir Hasan Khan, Secretary Moosa Kaleem and Secretary KUJ Hasan Abbass.
