Pakistani journalist Khalil Jibran, who was shot by unknown assailants on Tuesday in the Khyber district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, was laid to rest on Wednesday.
Before the burial, a group of journalists protested on the main highway with his body.
Jibran was shot near his home in the Mazrina area of Tehsil Landi Kotal. He was traveling in a vehicle with another person, identified as Sajid, who was injured in the attack.
The vehicle had an issue, so they stopped it. Assailants arrived, pulled Jibran out, shot him dead, and fled the scene. Jibran died on the spot, while Sajid was transported to the hospital for medical treatment.
According to the police, Khalil Jibran had previously received threats from terrorists due to his affiliation with a local TV channel, Khyber News.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sardar Ali Amin Gandapur condemned the killing. He took notice of the incident and directed the police to take immediate action to arrest those involved. Gandapur expressed his heartfelt condolences and assured the affected family that the killers would not escape the law.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi also condemned the murder and expressed his condolences to the bereaved family.
The funeral prayers were performed in KP and attended by political and social leaders, journalists, and other individuals. Before the funeral prayers, journalists, political and social personalities protested on the Pak-Afghan highway along with the deceased’s body.
The protesters demanded the immediate arrest of the killers, a martyr’s package for the grieving family, and free education for Khalil’s children.
A case has been registered at the Landi Kotal police station. The DPO (District Police Officer) stated that the case, registered on the complaint of the injured lawyer Sajid, includes sections from the anti-terrorism law. The DPO explained that Sajid, who is also an eyewitness, was injured in the attack.