Pak Taliban admit killing VOA reporter 'for not conveying outfit's viewpoint'

Islamabad, Jan 19(ANI): The Pakistan Taliban has admitted to killing a journalist, who was praying at a mosque near Peshawar on January 17.

Mohmand- based Mukarram Khan Atif, who worked for the Voice of America broadcasting service, was shot in the head by attackers on a motorcycle.

A Taliban spokesman said Atif was killed for not conveying the group's viewpoint, and added that he had been given several warnings, the BBC reports.

Pakistani journalists are increasingly facing death threats while reporting on the conflict in Pakistan's tribal areas.

According to The Reporters Without Borders campaign group, at least ten journalists were been killed in Pakistan's tribal regions in 2011.

Mukarram Khan covered North- west Pakistan for both radio and television.

The Voice of America (VOA) said he had been working for its Deewa Radio Service since 2006.

"Mr Atif risked his life on a daily basis to provide his audience with fair and balanced news from this critical region and we mourn the loss of our colleague," VOA Director David Ensor said. (ANI)