UNESCO chief denounces killing of media workers in Pakistan

The head of the United Nations agency tasked with defending press freedom today denounced the recent killing of two media workers in Pakistan, and called for an investigation into both cases.

“Violence and fear must not be allowed to prevent journalists and media workers from doing their work,” Irina Bokova, Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), said in a news release, following the killing of Arshad Ali Jaffari and Aftab Alam.

“The safety of journalists and media workers is an essential condition for the press to keep the public informed. It is important that the authorities investigate these cases and bring those responsible for them to trial.”

Mr. Jaffari, a satellite broadcast engineer for Geo News TV, was killed on 9 September in the city of Karachi when gunmen fired on a broadcast van in which he was working.

A few hours later, Mr. Alam, who had reported for a number of news outlets including Geo News TV and Samaa TV, was shot while driving his car near his home in Karachi.