Terrorist attacks on Journalists in Pakistan

Date

Place / District

Incidents

Karachi / Sindh

Mohammad Salahuddin, editor of the Urdu weekly, Takbeer, was shot and killed outside his office in Karachi. In his editorials, he was very critical of the MQM, a Karachi-based party supported by many Muslim migrants from India.

Karachi / Sindh

Mohammad Samdani Warsi, business manager of the Urdu-language daily Parcham, was shot and killed by unidentified assailants at the newspaper's office. The assailants were looking for Parcham's editor but turned on Samdani when they failed to find their original target. The paper's editorial policy supported the MQM.

Lahore / Punjab

Z.A. Shahid, news photographer of daily Khabrain was killed when a bomb exploded outside the Sessions Court premises in Lahore on January 17. The bombing targeted leaders of the SSP who were being brought from jail to a hearing. At least 19 people were killed and more than 80 injured. Five of the injured were journalists.

Gadap / Karachi / Sindh

Daniel Pearl was an American journalist and South Asia Bureau Chief of the Wall Street Journal who was abducted and killed by al Qaeda at Gadap, about 30 miles north of Karachi.

Manglawar Bazaar / Mingora / Swat / KP

Fazal Wahab, a freelance writer, was shot and killed by unidentified militants while he was sitting in a roadside shop in Manglawar Bazaar of Mingora in Swat District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Satellite Town / Quetta / Bolochistan

Two journalists and seven police personnel are injured in three bomb blasts in the Satellite Town area of Quetta.

Wana / South Waziristan Agency / FATA

Amir Nowab, a freelance cameraman for Associated Press Television News and a reporter for the Frontier Post newspaper, and Allah Noor, who was working for Peshawar-based Khyber TV, were killed by unidenfied militants in Wana of South Waziristan Agency of FATA. The journalists were on their way back from the town of Sararogha, where they were covering the suspected surrender of TTP ‘chief’ Baitullah Mehsud. Two other journalists were also injured. A group calling itself Sipah-e-Islam (Soldiers of Islam) claims responsibility.

Miranshah / North Waziristan Agency / FATA

Hayatullah Khan’s body was found by villagers in the North Waziristan town of Miranshah, where he had been kidnapped six months earlier on December 5, 2005. Khan, who was also a reporter for the Urdu-language daily Ausaf, had received numerous prior threats from Pakistani Security Forces, militants, and local tribesmen because of his reporting.

Hangu / KP

Unidentified assailants behead an Afghan journalist, Anwar Saleh in the Hangu town.

Charsadda / KP

Mehboob Khan, a freelance journalist, was killed in a suicide bomb attack aimed at Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao. The minister escaped with minor injuries, but 28 people died in the attack at a political rally in Charsadda town of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Three other journalists were also injured. 

Bajaur Agency / FATA

Noor Hakim Khan, a correspondent for the Daily Pakistan and a vice president of the Tribal Union of Journalists, was one of five people killed by a roadside bomb in the Bajaur Agency of FATA.

Islamabad / Punjab

Javed Khan, a photographer for the Islamabad-based daily Markaz and a cameraman for U.K.-based DM Digital TV, was shot in the chest and neck while caught in crossfire between SFs and the students of Lal Masjid (Red Mosque) in Islamabad. Four other journalists were also injured in the clashes.

Karachi / Sindh

Muhammad Arif was among more than 130 people killed in bombing in Karachi, which took place during a political rally held to celebrate former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto’s homecoming.

Quetta / Balochistan

Chishti Mujahid, a veteran columnist for the weekly Akbar-e-Jehan, was killed by militants outside his home in Quetta. A spokesman for the Baloch Liberation Army, claimed responsibility for the murder, saying Mujahid was “against” the Baloch cause.

Mingora / Swat / KP

Siraj Uddin, a reporter for The Nation, was killed in a suicide bombing that took the lives of more than 40 persons in Mingora town of Swat District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Khar / Bajaur Agency / FATA

Mohammed Ibrahim, a reporter for Express TV, was shot dead by unidentified militants outside Khar, the main town of the Bajaur Agency in FATA. The journalist was returning by motorcycle from an interview with local TTP ‘spokesman’ Maulvi Omar.

Swat / KP

Abdul Aziz Shaheen, who worked for the local Urdu-language daily Azadi, was killed in an airstrike that hit the lockup of TTP militants where Shaheen was being captive in the Swat. Abdul Aziz Shaheen was kidnapped from the Peuchar area of the Matta tehsil of Swat.

Dera Ismail Khan / KP

A suicide bomber killed Mohammad Imran, a cameraman trainee for Express TV, and Tahir Awan, a freelance reporter for the local Eitedal and Apna Akhbar newspapers, in Dera Ismail Khan of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Swat / KP

Musa Khankhel, a journalist of Geo TV and The News, was killed while covering a peace march led by Muslim cleric Sufi Muhammad, father-in-law of TNSM leader Maulana Fazlullah in Swat of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Jamrud / Khyber Agency / FATA

Three unidentified militants fired at the Afghan journalist, Janullah Hashimzada, and his colleague, Ali Khan, while they were travelling on a public minibus near the town of Jamrud in Khyber Agency of FATA. Hashimzada killed on the spot while Ali Khan injured severely. Both journalists worked for Afghanistan’s Shamshad TV.

Peshawar / KP

A photojournalist, Khurram Pervez, also sustained injuries when a suicide bomber blew himself up at the main gate of the Peshawar Press Club in Peshawar.

Miranshah / North Waziristan Agency / FATA

The Taliban militants detained a freelance journalist working for the Associated Press (AP) for shooting in the volatile tribal region in violation of a ban imposed by them in Miranshah of North Waziristan. Taliban spokesman Ahmadullah Ahmadi said by phone from somewhere in North Waziristan that the reporter had been taken into ‘custody’ for violating the ban.

Sariab Road / Quetta / Balochistan

Unidentified militants shot dead a journalist, identified as Hameed Marwat, at the Sariab Road in Quetta.

Khar / Bajaur Agency / FATA

A journalist, Muhammad Imran Khan, and his sister were injured when unidentified militants made a failed attempt to abduct them from their home in Khar of Bajaur Agency in the FATA. The TTP spokesman Azam Tariq told journalists in North Waziristan that the "pro-America" media was spreading wrong information about the TTP.

Quetta / Balochistan

Samaa TV cameraman, Arif was killed in a suicide bombing at a local civil hospital in Quetta, capital of Balochistan, killing at least eight people and injuring numerous others, including five journalists.

Kacha Pakka IDP camp / Kohat / KP

Azamat Ali Bangash, a cameraman and correspondent for Samaa TV, was killed in a suicide bombing while covering food distribution at the Kacha Pakka IDP camp on the outskirts of Kohat in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Wahi Pandhi / Sindh

Ghulam Rasool Birhamani, a reporter for the Daily Sindhu, Hyderabad, was found outside his hometown of Wahi Pandhi in Sindh, a day after he had been reported kidnapped. Birhamani's family believed he was killed because of his reporting on ethnic issues in Sindh.

Model Town / Garhi Shahu / Lahore / Punjab

Ejazul Haq, a technician for the local Lahore cable station City-42 TV, was killed while working at the scene of an armed attack on Ahmadiyya place of worship in Model Town and Garhi Shahu areas of Lahore in Punjab.

Quetta  / Balochistan

Ejaz Raisani was killed of injuries which he sustain while covering a rally of Shiite demonstration in Quetta that comes under a suicide attack. Six media personnel, four of them cameramen, were also injured.

Hangu / KP

Misri Khan Orakzai, a newspaper reporter and head of the local journalists association, was shot several times as he entered the press club building in Hangu town of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. TTP claimed responsibility.

Ghalanai / Mohmand Agency / FATA

Pervez Khan Mohmand, a journalist with Waqt TV, and Pervez Khan, were among 50 people killed in a double-suicide bomb attack on a jirga being held outside the office of the assistant political agent of Mohmand Agency at Ghalanai, the headquarters of Mohmand Agency, in FATA.

Liaquatabad / Karachi / Sindh

Wali Khan Babar, Geo TV reporter, was shot dead after his story on target killing in Karachi, at Liaquatabad area.

Peshawar / KP

Nasrullah Khan Afridi, a journalist of Khyber News Agency, was killed when his car blew up in Peshawar. Police said LI ‘chief’ Mangal Bagh, had threatened Afridi in Khyber. In May 2006, CPJ reported that unidentified assailants had lobbed two hand grenades at Afridi’s house in Bara, the main town of Khyber Agency in FATA.

Bahauddin / Punjab

Syed Saleem Shahzad, a Pakistani investigative journalist for leading European and Asian media, found dead on May 31 near the town of Mandi Bahauddin, about 75 miles (120 kilometres) south of the capital, Islamabad.

Peshawar / KP

Asfandyar Khan, a reporter for the Akhbar-e-Khyber, died in a double bombing that took the lives of more than three dozen people in Peshawar. Seven other journalists sustained minor injuries.

Peshawar / KP

Shafiullah Khan, a trainee reporter at The News, died six days after suffering extensive burns in a June 11 double bombing in Peshawar.

Hospital Road / Khuzdar / Balochistan

A senior journalist and member of the Khuzdar Press Club, Munir Ahmed Shakir, was shot dead by unidentified assailants on the Hospital Road in Khuzdar town of Khuzdar District in Balochistan. 

Nishar Hall / Jail Road / Peshawar

A journalist was injured when unidentified assailants attacked the team of a private TV channel, AVT Khyber News, near Nishar Hall on Jail Road in Peshawar.

Landikotal / Khyber Agency / FATA

Unidentified militants ambushed and injured a senior tribal journalist and former Khyber Agency Tribal Union of Journalists president Khalil Khan Afridi in Landikotal town.

Khuzdar / Balochistan

Bullet-riddled body of a journalist, identified as Javed Naseer Rind, was found in Khuzdar. Javed Naseer Rind worked as a senior sub-editor in local newspaper, Daily Tawar, in Mastung. Rind was abducted on September 10 near his resident in Mehmoodabad area of Hub Town in Lasbela District.

Shabqadar / Charsadda / KP

A senior tribal reporter, Mukarram Khan Atif, correspondent for Washington-based Pashto language Deewa Radio and a reporter for a private TV channel, was shot dead by two unidentified assailants in Shabqadar area of Charsadda District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

May 19, 2012

Singani Sar / Turbat / Kech / Balochistan

A bullet-riddled dead body of missing journalist Razzaq Gul was found in a deserted area of Singani Sar area, near Turbat city in Kech District. Razzaq Gul, a correspondent for Express News, was abducted near his house on May 18, 2012.

August 27, 2012

Gulshan-e-Iqbal area / Karachi / Sindh

Zainul Abedin, op-ed Editor of The News, one of Pakistan's leading English Dailies, was beaten up by four men outside his home in Gulshan-e-Iqbal area for watching TV and listening to music. The assailants who attacked the journalist are members of the proselytising group - Tablighi Jama'at.

Khuzdar / Balochistan

Unidentified militants shot dead Abdul Haq, the General Secretary of Khuzdar Press Club, in Khuzdar District of Balochistan.

Sadoro Janwari / Khairpur / Sindh

Seven people, including six activists of PPP and a reporter of Dharti TV Channel Mushtaque Khand were killed and 10 people, including three reporters and Administrator of KTMA, injured when armed militants opened fire at a public meeting on in Sadoro Janwari village of Khairpur District in Sindh.

Lyari / Karachi / Sindh

A Shia sport reporter of Janbaz Newspaper, identified as Ali Raza, was shot dead within Baghdadi Police remits at Khadda Market in Lyari area of Karachi in Sindh.

Marvi Sirmad, a journalist and a human rights activist, escaped attempt on her life in Islamabad. In her complaint to Secretariat Police she said that an unidentified assailant fired shots at her car while she was going home.

Panjgur / Balochistan

A Journalist, identified as Rehmatullah Abid,was killed by unidentified armed assailants in Panjgur District of Balochistan.

Senior journalist and anchor Hamid Mir escaped an assassination bid when Police defused a bomb planted under his car in Islamabad. Mir, who hosts the Capital Talk evening show on Geo TV and writes a column for Jang, was criticised by the TTP last month in the wake of the shooting of teenage activist Malala Yusufzai. TTP claimed responsibility for the attack.

Quetta-Sukkur highway / Machh / Bolan / Balochistan

A local journalist and two other persons were shot dead when a group of armed assailants intercepted a bus coming from Quetta on its way to Punjab and opened fire on the passengers and abducted six passengers on Quetta-Sukkur highway in the Machh area of Bolan District.

Miranshah town / North Waziristan Agency / FATA

A journalist Malik Mumtaz Khan was shot dead in Miranshah town of North Waziristan Agency.

Kalat / Balochistan

A local journalist, identified as Mehmood Ahmed Afridi, President of the Kalat Press Club, was shot dead by unidentified assailants near the main bus stop of Kalat city (Kalat District). No one has claimed responsibility for the murder.

Koramgi Road / Karachi / Sindh

A female staff, identified as Raheela Zohair, and a security guard, Mir Ali, were injured when four unidentified militants on motorcycles opened fire at the Express Media office located at Korangi Road in Karachi District of Sindh.

A dead body of a missing journalist, identified as that of Haji Abdul Razzaq Baloch, was found dumped on the outskirts of Karachi. Razzaq, an ethnic Baloch, was a sub editor at the daily Tawar (Voice), a Balochi-language daily, who went missing in March 2013 from Lyari Town.

Unidentified assailants shot dead a local journalist Ayub Khan Khattak in his native Warana village in Takht-e-Nusrati tehsil of Karak District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Police sources said unidentified assailants opened fire on Ayub Khattak and he died on the spot.

Unidentified militants killed a journalist, Bakht Taj Yousafzai, affiliated with a Mardan District Newspaper, in Bakhshali village of Mardan District.

Unknown gunmen on motorcycles opened fire on Hamid Mir in Karachi, Sindh province, injuring the senior reporter and television anchorperson. The incident took place on Sharae Faisal near Natha Khan area when the gunmen opened fire on his vehicle around 5:30 pm.

Phase-II / DHA / Karachi / Sindh

Sabeen Mahmud, the director at T2F, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in the Phase-II area of DHA in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh, in the night.

Usta Mohammad / Jaffarabad / Balochistan

A journalist, identified as Zafarullah Jatak, was shot dead while he was asleep at his home in Usta Mohammad town of Jaffarabad District in Balochistan.

Bahadurabad / Gulshan Town / Karachi / Sindh

Geo News satellite engineer Arshad Ali Jafri was killed and the driver Anees was injured when unidentified militants opened fire at the Geo News Digital Satellite News Gathering (DSNG) van in Bahadurabad area of Gulshan Town in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh.

Hayatabad / Peshawar / KP

Senior tribal journalist, Abdul Azam Shinwari, was shot at and injured in Hayatabad area of Peshawar in KP. Shinwari hails from the Landikotal tehsil of Khyber Agency in FATA.

North Karachi Town / Karachi / Sindh

A journalist, Aftab Alam, was shot dead near his home in North Karachi Town of Karachi in Sindh.

A local senior journalist Dr Muhammad Zaman Mehsud was killed when unidentified militants fire at his vehicle on North Waziristan Road in Tank District of KP.

Faisalabad / Punjab

Three employees of television channel Dunya News were injured in a hand grenade attack on the Faisalabad Bureau office by unidentified motorcycle bourne assailants in Faisalabad District of Punjab.

Kohat / KP

Unidentified assailants shot dead a TV journalist, Hafeez Ur Rehman (42) on the outskirts of Kohat District in KP.

Essa Nagri / Gulshan Town / Karachi / Sindh

A staff member, identified as Hassan Mateen, was injured when unidentified militants attacked the Dawn News DSNG van in Essa Nagri area of Gulshan Town in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh.

North Nazimabad Town / Karachi / Sindh

Unidentified armed assailants attacked the driver and took away the Geo News van from North Nazimabad Town in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh.

Unidentified militants killed two people, including Shia religious scholar and rights activist Syed Khurram Zaki and his journalist friend Rao Khalid, in a sectarian attack in North Karachi Town of Karachi. Both the victims belonged to the Shia community. While Khalid was currently working as a journalist, Zaki was a former journalist.

Kalat / Balochistan

Unidentified assailants shot dead a journalist, Muhammad Jan (37), in Kalat town of same District in Balochistan. Muhammad Jan, who worked for local Urdu language daily newspaper 'Qudrat', was shot dead while he was on his way home on a motorcycle.

Haripur / KP

A senior journalist of a local newspaper, identified as Baksheesh Allai, was shot dead by undefiled assailants in the Haripur town of same District in KP.

A local journalist, Haroon Khan, a correspondent for Waqt News TV, was shot dead outside his house in Swabi town of same District in KP. Haroon Khan came under fire when he stepped out of his home. He was also affiliated with Akhbar-i-Khaiber, while earlier he remained associated with the Mashriq TV.