Pakistani journalists Saturday observed protest meetings and brought out rallies to condemn what seemed a reprisal for prominent and liberal intellectual/ tv anchor Raza Rumi outspoken views on terrorism and militancy.
CRSS management condemns the dastardly attack and reiterates its support for unconditional and unfettered right of expression and assembly.
The attack on Friday, March 28, took place just a few hundred yards away from the Express TV Lahore office which Rumi had just left after hosting his programme ¿Khabar Se Agay–.
Unidentified gunmen fired at least eleven shorts on the car, injuring Rumi and his guard, while fatally wounding his his driver, who later succumbed to his fatal injuries.
A number of outspoken writers, journalists and anchors have drawn criticism from all of those socio-political and religio-political who support talks with the Tehreeki Taliban Pakistan ´ a militant outfit proscribed by the government as a terrorist organizations.
This was the fifth attack on the Express Media group, leaving Rumi driver dead. In one of the earlier strikes, three of Express TV staffers had been killed in a brazen gun attack in Karachi in January.
These repeated attacks have raised serious questions about the government ability to provide security to media houses in Pakistan and ensure that the media operate freely in the country.
Talking to Express News after the attack, Rumi said that doctors had termed his driver Mustafa condition critical. Mustafa succumbed to his injuries later. Rumi himself received minor injuries from glass shards which flew at him when the windscreen of the car shattered.
When asked, he said that although he had not received any direct threats, he was reportedly on the hit-list of some extremist groups. ‘Was fired at near Raja Market… I was dreading this day,’ Rumi tweeted soon after the attack.
Meanwhile, the Punjab Union of Journalists announced that it would hold a protest in front of the Punjab Assembly on Saturday.
In January, three Express News staffers were killed by unidentified gunmen who opened fire on an Express News DSNG van in Karachi. The attack followed two gun and bomb attacks on the Express Media office in Karachi last year which left at least four people injured.
Rumi remains defiant
‘We [journalists] will continue to speak the truth and not back down,’ Rumi said in an interview with Express News after the attack.
‘Politicians will not benefit from remaining quiet while journalists are muzzled… these bullets will target them tomorrow if they do not take notice today,’ he said. ‘There will be no security or governance left in Pakistan.’
Rumi said the relationship between citizens and the government would be irrevocably damaged if there is no sense of security in the country.
‘The first thought I had after the attack was how we have no security, no protection or guarantee,’ he told Express News. ‘I thought of the thousands who don–t have any protection or contacts in the police and don–t get any media attention,’ he said.
‘I appeal to the government and security agencies to ensure my driver gets justice and many more poor unprivileged citizens are saved from being martyred.’
Chronology of recent attacks on Express Media Group
August 16, 2013
Four armed men fired indiscriminately outside the entrance of the Express Media Group office in Karachi, injuring two members of staff, including a guard who is paralysed.
December 2, 2013
Three people were injured when the Karachi office came under attack. Two hand grenades were hurled at the office building, while unknown assailants opened indiscriminate fire.
January 17, 2014
Three Express News staffers ´ technician Waqas , driver Khalid, and guard Ashraf ´ were killed when the DSNG van of the channel came under attack in Nazimabad, Karachi. TTP took responsibility for the attack.
March 19, 2014
A bomb was defused outside Express News Peshawar bureau chief Jamshed Baghwan house in Murshadabad area of Peshawar.