KARACHI, Jan 14: Sindh Assembly press gallery members on Friday staged a walkout shortly after resumption of house proceedings in protest against the murder of their colleague Wali Khan Babar, a reporter of Geo News, who was gunned down when he was on his way back home from work on Thursday night.

The journalists walked out of the assembly building and raised slogans, saying that they would not cover the assembly proceedings of the day.

They staged a sit-in on the stairway of the main entrance of the assembly building where they were also joined by Sindh Assembly Deputy Speaker Shehla Raza, Minister Rafique Engineer, Adviser to the Chief Minister on Information Sharmila Farooqi, Leader of the Opposition Jam Madad Ali, Muttahida Quami Movement deputy parliamentary party leader Faisal Sabzwari and PML-Q leader Shaheryar Mahar.

They joined the journalists in condemning the murder of Mr Babar and paid tribute to him for his independent work. They expressed their heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.

Recalling the struggle and sacrifices of journalists for the freedom of the press and restoration of democracy in the country, they assured the journalist community that they would see to it that Mr Babar's assassins were brought to justice.

They also offered Fateha for veteran journalist and leader of the journalist community Minhaj Barna who passed away on Friday morning after a brief illness in Rawalpindi.

They marched from the assembly building to the Karachi Press Club.

Before taking out the procession, brief speeches were delivered by legislators, ministers and representatives of journalists.

Ms Farooqi spoke about the difficult circumstances under which journalists performed their duty and she assured them on behalf of the government that a proper inquiry would be held and the killers arrested soon.

She said that the government itself was a victim of terrorists and referred to the recent assassination of former Punjab governor Salman Taseer and other political activists, saying that all sections of society had to join in to fight terrorism and defeat it.

Mr Sabzwari said that the young journalist Babar was a cultured man with moderate views and was committed to telling the truth which was, perhaps, unacceptable to his killers.

Media representatives Shahid Jatoi, Tariq Moin and Arbab Chandio said that this murder was a clear message to the journalist community and urged the government to perform its duty of protecting life and property not only of journalists but also of every citizen of the country.