Journalist Khalil Gibran Shot dead by Unknown Assailants in Khyber District

Late Jibran is the fourth journalist killed this year in Pakistan and is the second tribal journalist after Kamran Dawar to be shot dead almost in similar fashion

Khalil Gibran, a former president of Landi Kotal Press Club who was associated with a local Pashto TV channel , was tragically shot dead by unidentified assailants in the Khyber tribal district, the police said. 

The incident occurred in the Mazrina area of Landi Kotal Tehsil. “Khalil Gibran was on his way home with friends when unknown armed men approached him, forced him out of his car, and shot him dead”, police added. 

No armed group or militant organization claimed responsibility for the murder of the journalist at the time of filing this report. However, many in the area believed he was allegedly killed by the Taliban.

Late Jibran is the fourth journalist killed this year in Pakistan and is the second tribal journalist after Kamran Dawar to be shot dead almost in similar fashion in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to Freedom Network, a Press freedom watchdog in Pakistan. 

The late Jibran leaves behind a widow and four children, all under 15, to mourn his loss. He was laid to rest on Wednesday morning following a postmortem at a government hospital, with the report still awaited.

Journalism and its practitioners have come under threat once again as militancy regains a foothold in the strategically important Khyber district, which borders Afghanistan's Nangarhar province.

Journalist Mehrab Afridi says the security situation has deteriorated drastically since the Afghan Taliban returned to power, providing the Pakistani Taliban with "safe havens," as Pakistan alleges.

The journalists community in the former tribal areas is demanding an investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice. A statement from the Landi Kotal Press Club  revealed that the journalist had shared his "safety concerns" with them. Other reporters are also facing threats. The government must provide security to the journalist community in Landi Kotal Tehsil.

Also Read: The impunity goes on: Two more journalists murdered in Pakistan 

The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) Workers has strongly condemned the assassination of senior journalist, Khalil Gibran, by unknown assailants, demanding to bring perpetrators to justice.

In a joint statement, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists  (PFUJ) President Shamim Shahid and Secretary General Raja Riaz condemned the killing, describing it as not only a blow to press freedom but also a complete failure and incompetence of Pakistan's security agencies.

They called for a special compensation package for the deceased's family, similar to those given to other martyrs. Additionally, they demanded that the owners of Pashto private television channels provide immediate financial assistance of at least five million rupees to the family of the martyred journalist.

Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ali Amin Gandapur, has taken notice of the killing and has directed authorities to ensure the immediate arrest of those involved in the shooting. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor, Faisal Karim Kundi, has also condemned the murder of journalist Khalil Gibran.