Thaindian News

Islamabad, Feb 19 (IANS) Thirty two bullets were pumped into TV reporter Musa Khan Khel in Pakistan’s Swat Valley two days after Islamabad allowed the Taliban to impose Shariat (Islamic law) in the area, said Geo News executive editor Hamid Mir, adding a lot of radicals were unhappy with his coverage but “truth has to be reported”.
Mir told a meeting of journalists: “They (the assailants) are mistaken, they cannot escape.”

He said that Musa Khan Khel’s statements were recorded “2-3 times before his death”.

“Truth has to be reported,” he said.

Mir went on to say that several journalists had earlier been killed in the valley while performing their duty.

Another journalist demanded that the government make arrangements for the protection of journalists in Swat and the killing was an assault on all journalists.

He said that “there is no rule of law” in Swat.

Geo TV said unidentified gunmen shot dead Musa Khan Khel in Matta area of Swat Valley in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP).

Khan Khel, who also worked for the English newspaper The News, was in the area to cover the talks between the local Taliban leader and a cleric, the News Network International (NNI) news agency reported.

No group claimed responsibility for the killing.

Khan Khel is the second journalist to be shot dead in Swat valley in three months.

Information Minister Sherry Rehman condemned Khan Khel’s murder and vowed to bring the murderers to justice.

On Monday, the Tehrik Nifaz-i-Shariat Muhammadi (TNSM) reached an agreement with the provincial government of NWFP that Shariat would be imposed in Malakand division, which includes the Swat Valley.