Protests over the killing of senior journalist Khalil Jibran in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have intensified, according to Dawn. Jibran was fatally shot in Landi Kotal tehsil, highlighting the severe dangers journalists face in the region.
The incident sparked protests by journalist organizations and local residents. On Wednesday morning, before Jibran’s funeral, residents and journalists blocked the main highway to the Torkham border, condemning his brutal murder, Dawn reported.
Protesters accused law enforcement agencies of failing to initiate a search operation immediately after the incident, despite information about Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan activists in the Mazreena hilly area. They issued a three-day ultimatum for the arrest of the perpetrators, demanded Rs 10 million in financial assistance for Jibran’s family, and called for free education for his children.
Journalist organizations and press clubs across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have condemned the murder and held protests in their districts, demanding justice and an end to violence against media professionals. Additionally, local journalists plan to hold another protest at Bab-i-Khyber in Jamrud on Friday afternoon, Dawn reported.
Jibran’s vehicle was ambushed by armed men as he returned from a dinner party in Sultan Khel’s Mazreena locality with friends, including a local lawyer. The attackers dragged Jibran out of the car, ordering the other occupants to leave, stating they were not the targets. They then fired multiple shots at Jibran, killing him on the spot.
Doctors at the District Headquarters Hospital in Landi Kotal reported that Jibran’s body had 19 bullet wounds and a fractured arm, indicating a struggle with the attackers, Dawn reported. Advocate Sajjad Khan, who was injured in the attack, received treatment for a hand wound and was later discharged. He recounted seeking refuge in a nearby house during the attack.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the murder, according to Dawn. The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) strongly condemned the killing and demanded the government arrest the culprits and provide protection for journalists. They called for measures to ensure journalists can perform their duties without fear of attacks.