QUETTA: Chief Minister Balochistan Dr. Malik Baloch announced Thursday the formation of a special task force to arrest culprits involved in the murder of journalists in the province.

Over 30 journalists were killed in the insurgency-hit province during the last seven years, according to the Balochistan Union of Journalists.

Journalists in Quetta marched on the roads and staged a two-hour long sit-in outside the Balochistan Assembly to mount pressure on the provincial government to arrest the culprits involved in the murder of newsmen.

“I order the formation of a task force to bring the killers of journalists to the book,” the chief minister assured protesting journalists outside the assembly.

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The protesting journalists had carried placards and banners inscribed with slogans condemning threats to journalists. The banners inscribed slogans including “Do not kill journalists, they are your voice”, “We stand for freedom of expression”, and “Bullets cannot silence our voice”. The protestors also chanted slogans during the demonstration.

“Despite repeated assurances, the killers of journalists are still at large,” Irfan Saeed, the President of Balochistan Union of Journalists, told protesting colleagues.

However, the chief minister assured them that a judicial commission earlier announced by his government would soon start work to catch the killers. “The judicial commission will start working very soon,” he said.

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Balochistan Information Minister Abdul Rahim Ziaratwal said that the provincial government was determined to address the journalists’ grievances. He said his government was committed to uphold the banner of freedom of expression in the province.

The protesting journalists ended their sit-in after assurances by the chief minister.