Pakistani Journalist Stood For Truth – and Died For It - IWPR Institute for War & Peace Reporting - P217

11.2.12

Pakistani Journalist Stood For Truth – and Died For It - IWPR Institute for War & Peace Reporting - P217: The murder of Mukarram Khan Atif deprives northwestern Pakistan of a courageous journalist who stood for truthful, fair reporting in the face of death threats from Taleban militants.

Mukarram, 45, was shot by two gunmen while praying at a mosque in Shabqadar Tehsil, in the Charsadda district about 25 kilometres from Peshawar, northwestern Pakistan, on January 17, police said. He was taken to hospital but died of his injuries.

“He was a very honest, hard-working journalist who did his work with great valour, under the most testing of circumstances in the troubled zones of Pakistan,” said Babar Baig, project coordinator for the Open Minds Project run by the Institute for War & Peace Reporting, for which Mukarram worked as a media trainer.

Police have not identified a motive, but it is clear the reporter’s independent and courageous stance made him a target for militant groups operating in northwestern Pakistan. The Pakistani Taleban (Tehrik-e-Taleban Pakistan) have claimed responsibility for the murder, and warned there were more journalists on their hit-list.