Abdul Qadir Hajizai

Incident Description: Shot Dead

On May 27, 2012, a correspondent for the local Balochi-language TV channel VSH TV, Abdul Qadir Hajizai, was killed when armed men on a motorcycle opened fire on him in Washik district of the Balochistan province. According to press reports, Hajizai was heading home when two armed men opened fire on him. He was critically injured and rushed to a local hospital where he died.

Balochistan Union of Journalists (BUJ) President Eesa Tareen had told PPF that a separatist group, Balochistan Liberation United Front (BLUF), had assumed responsibility for the murder. They alleged that Hajizai was a government informer and was reporting against them. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Hajizai’s colleagues were unaware of threats against him.

Hajizai's brother Darjan told PPF that the case had been closed. He said that no one was arrested, adding that the government had not cooperated in this matter. According to Tehsildar Bishma Wahhabi, no one was arrested and there were no court proceedings so far.