Gunmen kill journalist in Pakistan

Taleban condemns killing

MIRANSHAH, Pakistan, Feb 27, (AFP): Unidentified attackers shot dead a senior local journalist in Pakistan’s lawless northwestern tribal region on Wednesday, witnesses said.

Malik Mumtaz, who worked for the Geo television channel as well as English and Urdu newspapers from the same media group, was shot in Miranshah, the main town of North Waziristan tribal district.

The tribal areas along the Afghan border are a haven for Islamist militants, but the Pakistani Taliban condemned the murder of Mumtaz, who was president of the local press club and had reported on the area for more than 20 years.

“Gunmen opened fire on his vehicle when he was driving back to his home and he died on the spot,” a local intelligence official told AFP, requesting anonymity.

Noor Behram, the president of the Tribal Union of Journalists, confirmed the killing and announced one week of mourning.

A spokesman for Pakistani Taliban militants condemned the killing and denied any involvement by the umbrella Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) faction.

“He was a good reporter and was serving tribal people, we condemn his killing and salute his services for tribal people,” TTP spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan told AFP by telephone from an undisclosed location.

Mumtaz is survived by his wife, two sons and one daughter.