Reflecting Pakistan’s deteriorating security, a GEO TV journalist Musa Khan was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in the Swat Valley. The 28-year old TV journalist had gone to the Matta area of Swat to cover talks expected to be held between Taliban leader and hardliner cleric Maulana Sufi Mohammad, whose organisation has reached an agreement with the North West Frontier Province government on enforcing Sharia law in Swat and in parts of the province. No organisation has claimed responsibility for the killing.
The President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari, has sent out condolences and announced ex-gratia for the reporter. The Swat Valley was recently in news as it is the base of the Taliban. The event can be seen as setting an example of trying to stop or instil fear on the Fourth Estate. Such blatant killing cannot be tolerated and his fellow journalists in Pakistan are up in arms, demanding answers from the Pakistani Government.
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