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Pakistan Taliban admit killing reporter MK Atif | Pakistan Taliban admit killing reporter MK Atif |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The Taliban in Pakistan have said they killed a journalist while he was praying in a mosque near the city of Peshawar on Tuesday. | The Taliban in Pakistan have said they killed a journalist while he was praying in a mosque near the city of Peshawar on Tuesday. |
Mukarram Khan Atif - who worked for the Voice of America broadcasting service - was shot in the head by attackers on a motorcycle who fled from the scene. | Mukarram Khan Atif - who worked for the Voice of America broadcasting service - was shot in the head by attackers on a motorcycle who fled from the scene. |
His death has been condemned by his employers and by campaigning groups. | His death has been condemned by his employers and by campaigning groups. |
The Reporters Without Borders campaign group say Pakistan was the deadliest country for journalists in 2011. | The Reporters Without Borders campaign group say Pakistan was the deadliest country for journalists in 2011. |
Last year, 10 journalists were killed there as a result of their work, the group says. | Last year, 10 journalists were killed there as a result of their work, the group says. |
Warnings | |
Mr Atif - who was based in the Mohmand tribal region - was reported to be among several reporters in the area who had been receiving threats because of his work. | Mr Atif - who was based in the Mohmand tribal region - was reported to be among several reporters in the area who had been receiving threats because of his work. |
A bystander who was with him at the time of the attack was seriously injured. | |
Mr Atif was buried on Wednesday in his home town of Shabqadar. | |
A spokesman for the militants told the BBC that he was shot dead for not conveying the Taliban's point of view. | |
The spokesman said that he had been warned many times before for not telling their side of the story. | |
The BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan in Karachi says that the Taliban had warned of dire consequences in recent propaganda statements and videos. | |
The militants said that they would attack facilities and employees of media organisations if they did not refrain from what they called "malicious propaganda". | |
Our correspondent says that it is the first time that the militants have accepted responsibility for such a killing. | |
Mr Atif, 40, complained that he had received threats from militants in Mohmand several months ago and had moved away from there to the nearby town of Charsadda. | Mr Atif, 40, complained that he had received threats from militants in Mohmand several months ago and had moved away from there to the nearby town of Charsadda. |
In a statement, Voice of America (VOA) said that 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. | "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. |
It said that the murdered reporter also worked for local TV stations in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Area, a region where Taliban and al-Qaeda militants are active. | It said that the murdered reporter also worked for local TV stations in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Area, a region where Taliban and al-Qaeda militants are active. |