Abdul Razzaq Gul
QUETTA: Baloch journalist was gunned down in the restive southwest province of Balochistan soon after the days when UNESCO ranked Pakistan the second most dangerous country over the world. According to the reports from district Turbat the mutilated body of Abdul Razzaq Gul was found dumped in city on Saturday morning. More than 18 journalists have been killed in Balochistan during last three years.
Razzaq Baloch, special correspondent of Express News was kidnapped from his way to home on Friday evening near Singani Sar Turbat and had gone missing since then sources told.
Gul’s bullet ridden body was found shot dead near Singani sar area of District kech close to the old city civil hospital. Police shifted the body to a state run hospital for autopsy where his brother identified him as Razzaq Gul. “The victim was shot in the head and chest, and his body bore marks of torture,” hospital sources said.
According to the hospital sources Gul had received 15 bullets to his head and chest, and had died right away.
Journalists in Turbat Press Club mentioned that, Razzaq Gul had not mentioned that he was receiving death threats. He hadn’t even indicated that his life was in danger.
“He was kidnapped and later his body was dumped,” local journalists said.
Most journalists refused to comment on the killing owing to security reasons.
Inspector General (IG) Police Balochistan Hussain Karar Khwaja has directed an inquiry into the murder.
Balochistan Union of Journalists (BUJ) and Council of All Balochistan Press Club strongly condemned the killing. BUJ also announced three day morning.
“As many as 17 journalists have been killed during that past three years and not a single murder was properly investigated,” BUJ said in a statement. “This is meant to terrify journalists in Balochistan.”
Council of All Balochistan Press Club said that it will launch a protest campaign by June 1 if culprits behind the murder are not arrested immediately.
A complete shutter down strike was observed on the call of Balochistan National moment (BNM) in Tump, Mand, Hoshab and Turbat city to protest the killing of journalists.
Funeral prayers for Razzaq Gul were held at 1pm today and his burial took place in his hometown, Singhania Sar.
Courteous by Express Tribune and Somalan Baloch
