World press body condemns killing of Pakistan journalist

Brussels, Nov 10 (IANS) The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemned Monday the killing of a journalist by security forces in the troubled Swat valley in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province.

Qari Mohammad Shoaib, a reporter for daily newspapers Azadi and Khabar Kar, was shot dead in Mingora Sunday as he returned home from work, reportedly because he did not stop his vehicle when signalled to do so, the EuAsiaNews said.

'Journalists in Pakistan's conflict zones are working under extreme pressures as they seek to report in the public interest from the country's zones of intensifying conflict, including the Swat valley,' said the IFJ in a statement.

Shoaib is the third journalist to be killed in Swat this year, it noted.

Journalists around the country will rally Nov 12 to demand greater security for media personnel in Pakistan's conflict zones.

The Brussels-based IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 120 countries worldwide.