By NE NOW NEWS
Guwahati: International media rights organisation Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) has called for a transparent investigation into the killing of journalist Lala Israfil Khan, who was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Pakistan’s Balochistan province on Saturday.
Khan, 35, contributed to Hum News and several other media outlets. He was killed in the Musakhel area of Balochistan, prompting condemnation from media organisations and journalist bodies across Pakistan.
In a statement, PEC urged authorities to identify and prosecute those responsible for the killing. The organisation’s president, Blaise Lempen, called on Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti to ensure a thorough investigation and bring the perpetrators to justice.
PEC also urged the Pakistani government to investigate attacks on journalists and address concerns raised by media watchdogs over impunity in crimes targeting media workers.
The Rural Media Network Pakistan and the Balochistan Union of Journalists separately condemned the killing and called for an immediate investigation to establish the motive behind the murder.
PEC’s South and Southeast Asia representative Nava Thakuria described Khan as a journalist known for reporting on public issues and accountability. He said Khan was widely respected in his community.
According to PEC, Khan is the first journalist killed in Pakistan in 2026 and the 34th media professional reported killed worldwide this year.
The killing has renewed concerns over the safety of journalists in Pakistan, where several media workers have been killed in recent years. According to PEC, journalists A.D. Shar, Abdul Latif, Syed Mohammed Shah, Imtiaz Mir and Tufail Rind were among those killed in the country in 2025.