LAHORE, Feb 28: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has condemned the murder of Malik Mumtaz, a journalist based at Miramshah, South Waziristan, on Wednesday.

The HRCP stated the murder is a continuation of the disturbing trend of increasing violence against journalists. The fact that Mumtaz is the fifth journalist killed in the first two months of 2013 highlights the vulnerability and the threats those in the journalism profession face.

At least 10 journalists were killed in 2012. The HRCP terms the murder and the past episodes as direct attacks on freedom of the media. The response of both the federal and provincial governments has been completely inadequate as journalists continue to be attacked with impunity.

The HRCP has called upon the government to bring the culprits to justice and further take all necessary measures to guarantee the safety of journalists in order to allow an enabling environment for them to work freely and without intimidation. The duty of the employers in his matter is obvious.

Meanwhile, the South Asian Free Media Association, the South Asia Media Commission and the Media Commission-Pakistan have jointly condemned the killing of two journalists in a week.

The joint statement was released by Safma Secretary-General Imtiaz Alam, SAMC Secretary-General M. Ziauddin and Media Commission-Pakistan President Arif Nizami and secretary-general Babar Ayaz.

The joint statement said journalist Malik Mumtaz was killed in Fata when he was returning home after visiting a nearby village.

“Journalists in Pakistan are pursuing a hazardous profession. They are being targeted with impunity. Had the killers of any one of the 50 journalists killed in the last few years been caught and punished, the security situation for the country’s media would have been better,” the statement said.

They also expressed outrage over the death of APP chief reporter Khushnood Ali Sheikh in Karachi in a “hit-and-run” accident by a car near his house after receiving threats for his refusal to pay extortion money.

“We extend our condolences to families of the two journalists. We demand that the government should immediately arrest and punish those behind these attacks,” they said.

They also demanded that employers and the government should provide compensation to journalists’ families.

SAMC’s South Asia Media Monitor report has recorded the killing of 13 journalists in Pakistan in 2012.