Mukarram Khan Aatif, a reporter for Deewa Radio, a Pashto-language service of the Voice of America, was killed by a gunman Tuesday near Peshawar, Pakistan. He was praying in a mosque when killed, according to a release from the VOA.
The killer allegedly was associated with the Taliban. The Taliban has claimed credit for the murder according to the release.
In making the announcement VOA urged local authorities to do more to protect journalists and pursue the killer and his accomplices.
Aatif had worked with Deewa Radio since 2006. VOA Director David Ensor praised Aatif and said, “Mr. Aatif risked his life on a daily basis to provide his audience with fair and balanced news… We call on authorities in Pakistan to do more to protect all journalists working there and bring his killers to justice.”
The VOA release noted that the group Reporters Without Borders named Pakistan as the most dangerous country for journalists in the last two years.
