UNESCO head speaks out against murder of Pakistani journalist

The head of the United Nations agency tasked with upholding press freedom today condemned the killing of a Pakistani journalist late last month, stressing that the murder undercuts the right to freedom of expression.

Raja Assad Hammeed, a senior reporter for the daily newspaper, Nation, and the Waqt TV channel, was shot dead by unidentified assailants as he arrived home in Rawalpindi, in northern Pakistan, on 26 March.

“I trust that the authorities will press ahead with a thorough investigation of this crime which undermines journalists' inalienable human right to freedom of expression and society''s right to enjoy press freedom,” said said Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).