A journalist was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in the restive southwest Balochistan province, days after the UNESCO ranked Pakistan as 'the second most dangerous' country for reporters the world over.
The body of Razzaq Gul was found this morning in Turbat, a town in Balochistan, his brother said. Gul had been working for the Express Group of publications, one of the leading media houses in Pakistan. He was associated with the group for 10 years.
The group announced that Gul was killed following his abduction by unidentified men while returning home. Police found Gul's body near a hospital. His motorcycle was lying near the body.
No group claimed responsibility for the killing. Police officials said they were trying to ascertain the motive for the murder. Gul's family said he had no enmity with anyone. His brother said the reporter had not received any threat.
Doctors said Gul was shot three times and that his brother had identified the body in hospital. The mysterious murder of yet another journalist in Pakistan has again raised concerns among reporters in the country.
A UNESCO report titled 'Safety and the danger of impunity' released earlier this month said there had been a dramatic increase in the number of media personnel killed in Pakistan.
UNESCO said from two and six killings registered in its two previous reports, respectively, the number of killings had increased to 16 during 2010-11. Mexico, it said, is the worst affected country in the period as far as risk to the journalists' fraternity is concerned.
Statistics compiled by the Committee to Protect Journalists showed that as many as 42 journalists have been killed in Pakistan since 1992. It said that at least 14 journalists had lost their lives in the line of duty in Pakistan in the past year.
A recent report of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) disclosed that the prevalence of conflict and financial hardship across Pakistan has a direct impact on risks faced by journalists and that individuals were more prepared to take on dangerous jobs for which they might be paid.