Condemning the murder of senior journalist Lala Israfil Khan in Musakhel, Balochistan, the international media rights body Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) has demanded a transparent and time-bound investigation to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
Lala Israfil Khan (35), who contributed to Hum News and other media outlets, was shot dead by unidentified assailants on Saturday evening. His killing has triggered widespread concern among journalist bodies and rights organisations.
PEC’s South and Southeast Asia representative, Nava Thakuria, described Lala Israfil as a fearless journalist known for raising public issues with accountability. Beyond his professional work, he was widely respected in his community as a dignified and principled individual.
Meanwhile, the Rural Media Network Pakistan and the Balochistan Union of Journalists strongly denounced the incident and urged authorities to launch an immediate probe to uncover the motive behind the murder.
“We in PEC strongly denounce the murder of Lala Israfil Khan, who becomes the first journalist killed in Pakistan this year and the 34th media professional globally to be assassinated,” said Blaise Lempen, President of the Press Emblem Campaign.
He further urged Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti to personally intervene and ensure that all perpetrators are identified and prosecuted. Lempen also called on the federal authorities in Islamabad to address the growing cases of attacks on journalists highlighted by the Pakistan Press Foundation and to break the pattern of impunity enjoyed by those targeting media
The killing underscores ongoing concerns about the safety of journalists in Pakistan. In the previous year, the country witnessed multiple journalist fatalities, including A.D. Shar and Syed Mohammed Shah in Sindh, Abdul Latif in Balochistan, Imtiaz Mir in Sindh, and Tufail Rind in Sindh—highlighting a troubling pattern of violence against media personnel.