Death anniversary of Musa Khankhel observed

MINGORA: The 10th death anniversary of Musa Khankhel, correspondent of Geo News and The News, was observed here at the Swat Press Club on Monday.

Journalists, writers and elders paid glowing tributes to the slain journalist. Unidentified persons had shot dead Musa Khankhel in Matta tehsil in Swat district on February 18, 2009, where he had gone for coverage.

Member Provincial Assembly Fazal Hakim Khan presided over the ceremony, while Deputy Inspector General Malakand Range Saeed Khan Wazir was the chief guest on the occasion. Tehsil Nazim Ikram Khan, Qaumi Watan Party leader Fazal Rehman Nono and others were among the participants.

Essa Khankhel, brother of the slain journalist, thanked all the participants and said that he was grateful to all who participated in the death anniversary programme and paid tributes to his late brother.

"He was a professional journalist and a very good family member. He was also a social worker," he said, adding that the former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani in 2009 had promised a plot of land for his family in Islamabad but the pledge has yet to be honoured.

"Musa Khankhel was a brave journalist, who sacrificed his life but did not compromise on principles," said Mahboob Ali Yousafzai, another journalist. He said Musa Khankhel was alive in the minds and hearts of the people due to his services which he had rendered for this land.

Swat Union of Journalist President Fazal Rahim Khan said that commitment and devotion were the principles always followed by the slain journalist. "He had a smiling face, who did reporting during the conflict without any fear," he recalled.

He said that despite threats, he never compromised on his principles and devotion. MPA Fazal Hakim said the peace was restored in Swat owing to the sacrifices of journalists. "I salute and pay tributes to Musa Khankhel and all other journalists for their sacrifices for peace and people of the area," he said.

DIG Saeed Khan Wazir said that Swat saw harsh times in the past but now peace prevailed here due to the sacrifices of people of Swat, journalists, police and security forces. "We feel proud of the sacrifices of our martyrs including journalists and will always remember them," he said.

Renowned poet Shamsur Rehman Shams paid tributes to slain journalist in his poetry. Rahmat Ali Khan, Fazal Rehman Nono, tehsil nazim Ikram Khan, Niaz Ahmad Khan and Saeedur Rehman also addressed the gathering. The journalists asked the government to construct a monument in Swat to recognize the sacrifices of journalists.