UNESCO chief denounces killing of media workers in Pakistan

UNITED NATIONS: The head of the United Nations agency tasked with defending press freedom Monday denounced the recent killing of two media workers in Pakistan, and called for an investigation into both cases, stated a news release.

“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 Jafri 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.”

Geo News satellite engineer Arshad Ali Jafri lost his life when unknown gunmen attacked a Geo News DSNG van in the Bahadurabad area of Karachi on September 8.

Senior journalist Aftab Alam was killed the next day when gunmen fired shots at his vehicle in North Karachi.