News Desk
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan: In a tragic incident, senior journalist Khalil Jibran was shot and killed near his residence in Landi Kotal, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The former president of the Landi Kotal Press Club and reporter for Khyber News was returning home with his friend Sajjad Advocate when unidentified assailants on motorcycles ambushed them, according to District Police Officer (DPO) Khyber Salim Abbas.
The attack occurred when Jibran’s car broke down near his home in the Mazreena area. The gunmen surrounded his vehicle, dragged him out, and opened fire, killing Jibran on the spot and injuring Sajjad. The assailants fled the scene, leaving the journalist’s body to be transported to Landi Kotal Hospital for a post-mortem examination.
DPO Abbas revealed that Jibran had previously received threats from terrorist groups, hinting at a possible motive behind the attack. The incident has drawn swift reactions from provincial leaders, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur ordering an immediate investigation to apprehend the culprits. Governor Faisal Karim Kundi also condemned the murder, calling for swift justice.
The Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors (AEMEND) expressed strong condemnation of the killing, criticizing the government’s inability to protect journalists who face continuous threats and violence across Pakistan. AEMEND urged both the KP chief minister and the federal interior minister to ensure Jibran’s killers are brought to justice.
This tragic event echoes a similar attack last month on journalist Nasrullah Gadani of a Sindhi newspaper. Gadani was ambushed by motorcycle-riding assailants near Korai Goth, resulting in severe injuries. Despite emergency treatment and transfer to Karachi for advanced care, Gadani succumbed to his wounds days later.
The deaths of Jibran and Gadani underscore the increasing dangers faced by journalists in Pakistan, as the media community calls for stronger protections and decisive action against those who target them.
