Commonwealth Press Union

PPI bureau chief murderedSource: PPI and CPJ Nov. 1
The Islamabad bureau chief of the Pakistan Press International (PPI) news agency has been murdered.
Malik Mohammad Ismail Khan's body was discovered on Nov. 2, a short distance away from his office. A PPI report said the 52-year old had sustained massive head injuries and may have been been attacked by two to three assailants with heavy tools or sharp objects.
The PPI report said Khan had left his office on the evening of Oct. 31, after attending a function at the Turkish embassy.
Islamabad Capital Territory Police Superintendent Ashfaq Ahmed told journalists that Khan's murder was apparently a targeted killing. Medical staff at the hospital appeared to confirm this. "The wounds on his face and head suggest that the culprits were trained and they hit him with precision," Dr. Wasim Khawaja told PPI.
It is unknown if Khan was targeted for his journalism. His younger brother, Mohammad Khateeb, told PPI Khan had no known enemies, while a Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) report said PPI is not know for particularly critical reporting of the government.
Khan started his career with PPI and later joined the Frontier Post. He also worked as editor with the On-line news agency before returning to PPI as resident editor last year.
Harry Wilson – CPU