(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has voiced outrage over the murder of journalist Sajid Tanoli by a mayor in Pakistan’s North-West Frontier Province on 29 January 2004. The mayor killed the journalist over a report about alcohol trafficking. Tanoli, aged 34, a reporter for the Urdu-language daily “Shumaal” (“North”), was killed by Khalid Javed, a lawyer and […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has voiced outrage over the murder of journalist Sajid Tanoli by a mayor in Pakistan’s North-West Frontier Province on 29 January 2004. The mayor killed the journalist over a report about alcohol trafficking.
Tanoli, aged 34, a reporter for the Urdu-language daily “Shumaal” (“North”), was killed by Khalid Javed, a lawyer and Nazim (mayor) of Mansehra, in the North-West Frontier Province, 150 kilometres northwest of Islamabad. Javed shot Tanoli five times in broad daylight on one of the city’s streets.
RSF called on the Interior Ministry to do everything possible to ensure the local official is arrested and tried. The organisation also accused the federal authorities of sustaining a climate of violence against the press, which increases the risks for journalists, who are constantly under pressure from politicians and local elites.
Javed was named in a 26 January report by Tanoli on alcohol trafficking, which is banned in Pakistan under Islamic law. Javed filed a complaint against the paper, demanding more than 200,000 euros (approx. US$247,700) in damages if it does not publish an apology.
Javed fled after the 29 January shooting, but police arrested his brother and son, who were named as accomplices to the murder in a complaint filed by Tanoli’s brother.
