Geo News correspondent Malik Mumtaz martyred in North Waziristan
February 27, 2013
Mumtaz was returning home to Miranshah after offering condolences from a nearby village when unknown assailants opened fire on his car, killing him on the spot near Chashma bridge. His body has been shifted to a local hospital for post mortem.
Malik Mumtaz had recently been elected President of the Miranshah Press Club. He is survived by his two sons and daughter.
Malik Mumtaz graduated from Gomal University in Dera Ismail Khan and remained associated with Jang Group for two decades during which he worked for the Group's newspapers and later also for its channel, Geo News.
Reporting from the lawless tribal areas of Pakistan, Mumtaz was a well respected journalist whose reporting was unbiased and accurate.
Malik Mumtaz’s funeral will be held on Thursday at 2:30 PM in Miranshah and later he will be laid to rest in his ancestral graveyard.
Journalists condemn Malik Mumtaz’s murder
Condemning the attack on Malik Mumtaz, senior journalists said the government had failed to provide security to reporters. Speaking to Geo News, senior journalist/anchor Hamid Mir said Mumtaz had been receiving threats.
Talat Hussain offering his condolences said journalists in Pakistan especially FATA had been reporting under difficult conditions.
Speaking to Geo News, senior journalist Mazhar Abbas said the government’s performance in protecting journalists was regrettable. Asma Shirazi called upon the Supreme Court to take notice of the killing of Malik Mumtaz.
Meanwhile PFUJ president Pervaiz Shaukhat said the government should find and punish those behind this attack. Mohammad Malick said the government had failed to protect journalists. Saleem Safi offered his condolences and praised Malik Mumtaz for being an honest journalist.
Politicians condemn attack on Malik Mumtaz
Politicians have condemned the attack on Malik Mumtaz. MQM chief Altaf Hussain said the attack on Mumtaz was an attack on the independence of the media.
JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman offered his condolences to the family of Malik Mumtaz. Fazlur Rehman added that the entire nation had condemned this attack.
PML-N leader Pervaiz Rasheed said the killers of Malik Mumtaz were enemies of democracy who wanted to portray a negative image of Pakistan.
PTI chairman Imran Khan condemned the murder of Malik Mumtaz and said no one was safe in Pakistan which illustrated the incompetence of the government.
The murder was also condemned by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, KPK Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti, JI leader Munawar Hasan, Liaqat Baloch, Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon and the Governors of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab.
