LAHORE: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has condemned the assassination of journalist Mukarram Khan Atif in Charsadda and expressed concern that journalists’ killings have continued across the country despite assurances by the authorities.

“It is exceedingly unfortunate that despite repeated assurances by the government to protect journalists, Mukarram Khan Atif, a senior journalist working for the electronic media was killed in Shabqadar, Charsaddah, in a blatant attack,” a statement issued by the HRCP said on Wednesday. The statement added that despite the interior minister’s advice to journalists last year that they should arm themselves for their safety, the journalists and civil society still expect the authorities to protect them and track down their killers rather than washing their hands of key obligations.

The HRCP said that it was not entirely unreasonable for journalists to question the government’s commitment to protect them in view of its failure to bring to justice the killers of even one of the many journalists killed during its tenure. The HRCP urged the government to respond with effective steps rather than mere rhetoric, and demanded compensation for the slain journalists’ families.

Source: Daily Times