Wali Khan Babar
Encyclopedia
Wali Khan Babar was a Pakistan
i journalist working for GEO News
who was killed by MQM-A gunmen in the Liaquatabad
area of Karachi
. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists
, Babar was the first journalist it had confirmed killed in a work-related death in 2011. Pakistan was the deadliest country for journalists in 2010.
in 2007 before moving to the mainstream GEO News channel in 2008. He was active in the journalism field for four years.
where he was pronounced dead. His body received five bullets from the attack, including two in the forehead, one in the jaw and the other two in the neck. The assault was thought to be a part of the numerous politically-motivated target killing
s which have gripped the city in recent months.
It is said that Babar spoke of social issues in many of his reports and just before he was killed, he had covered an operation against drug traffickers in the city's Pehalwan Goth neighborhood.
over his death. Journalists in other parts of the country also staged demonstrations, including outside the Karachi Press Club
; in Peshawar, gatherings were organised outside the Peshawar Press Club
and in Peshawar Cantonment
. Scores of protesters expressed anger against the government for "shielding professional killers" and accused the Karachi-based Muttahida Qaumi Movement
(MQM) for the killing, saying the party was perpetrating “ethnic cleansing of Pakhtuns, Baloch
, Sindhis
and the Punjabis" although MQM leader Altaf Hussain
denounced the killing. In the meantime, the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors termed Wali Khan as a "Martyr of Journalism." The Pashtun Awami National Party
announced a three-day mourning period while the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) declared a black day during which black flags were hoisted above media centers, press clubs and journalist offices. In a related development, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan
called Babar's killing a "premeditated murder."
The killing was condemned by President Asif Ali Zardari
, interior minister Rehman Malik
and Pakistan Muslim League (N)
leaders Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain
and Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi
. In a separate statement, former cricketer and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
chairman Imran Khan
expressed his condolences and questioned the government's seriousness over addressing target killings. The Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa ordered a judicial inquiry following the news. An FIR
was accordingly filed by the police to investigate the murder. A special segment was presented on his killing in Hamid Mir
's current affairs program Capital Talk
.
On World Press Freedom Day, 2011, participants of a forum at the National Press Club
and Newseum
in Washington, D.C., called attention to world governments who licensed in order to punish news organizations that were critical of the government, as was the case for Pakistan that had used licensing to punish Geo News, for which Wali Khan had worked.
belonging to the Babar
tribe. He hailed from the town of Zhob
in Balochistan and was a vocal critic of the state's policies pertaining to the Balochistan conflict
.
He held a Masters' degree in international relations from the University of Karachi
.
Before his death, he resided in Karachi's North Nazimabad
suburb.
He left behind a widow mother, three sisters and four brothers.
His body was buried in Zhob
, his hometown.
, MI
, CID, IB), it was established that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement
(MQM) of Altaf Hussain
was found involved in the planned target killing of Wali Khan Babar. In this regard, a video of the confession by the killer Muhammad Shahrukh also surfaced in which he mentions his political affiliation to that of Altaf Hussain's MQM
.
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
i journalist working for GEO News
GEO News
Geo News is a Karachi-based Pakistani news channel, fully owned and operated by Jang Group. The channel started its broadcasting in November 2005 and has millions of Urdu-language viewers around the world.- Popular Shows :...
who was killed by MQM-A gunmen in the Liaquatabad
Liaquatabad
Liaquatabad is a neighborhood of Liaquatabad Town in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. Liaquatabad was named after Nawabzada Liaquat Ali Khan, the first Prime Minister of Pakistan....
area of Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists
Committee to Protect Journalists
The Committee to Protect Journalists is an independent nonprofit organisation based in New York City that promotes press freedom and defends the rights of journalists.-History:A group of U.S...
, Babar was the first journalist it had confirmed killed in a work-related death in 2011. Pakistan was the deadliest country for journalists in 2010.
Career
Babar briefly joined GEO EnglishGEO English
GEO English was a planned English language news television channel from the Geo TV network in Pakistan. Until the time of it being scrapped in late October 2008, it was running its test transmission internally in Karachi, having Owais Tohid as its Director News.The channel has now been scrapped,...
in 2007 before moving to the mainstream GEO News channel in 2008. He was active in the journalism field for four years.
Death
According to various press reports, Babar was on his way back home from office on the 13th of January, 2011, when he was intercepted by unidentified armed men who upon recognising him, opened gunfire towards his car killing him on the spot. He was taken to the Abbasi Shaheed HospitalAbbasi Shaheed Hospital
Abbasi Shaheed Hospital is located in Paposh Nagar neighborhood of Nazimabad, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. This public hospital was constructed in the early 1970s and serves the residents of northern part of the city Abbasi Shaheed Hospital is located in Paposh Nagar neighborhood of Nazimabad,...
where he was pronounced dead. His body received five bullets from the attack, including two in the forehead, one in the jaw and the other two in the neck. The assault was thought to be a part of the numerous politically-motivated target killing
Target killings in Pakistan
In Pakistan, target killings have been a rising form of violence and have contributed to security instability in the country. They have become common and have gained attention especially in Karachi, Pakistan's largest city and economic capital. Police and law enforcement agencies have sometimes...
s which have gripped the city in recent months.
It is said that Babar spoke of social issues in many of his reports and just before he was killed, he had covered an operation against drug traffickers in the city's Pehalwan Goth neighborhood.
Investigations
In April 2011, various media outlets reported that four people linked to the investigation of Babar's case had been murdered in cold blood. The victims included two policemen, a brother of one police officer and an informer linked to developments in the case. All had been shot dead, mostly in drive-by shootings. The perpetrators remained unknown.Reactions
He was buried amid protests organised by the Balochistan Union of Journalists and Pakhtun-khwa Milli Awami PartyPakhtun-khwa Milli Awami Party
Pukhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party / ) is a Pashtun democratic political party in Pakistan. The moto of PkMAP is to unite Pushtuns of Balochistan, Sindh, Punjab and Khyber Pukhtunkhwa provinces of Pakistan.Mahmood Khan Achakzai is the current party chairman...
over his death. Journalists in other parts of the country also staged demonstrations, including outside the Karachi Press Club
Karachi Press Club
The Karachi Press Club , is an association of primarily news journalists, but also includes academics, business people and members of the public service, and is located at Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. KPC was the first press club of Pakistan. Its first election was held in 1958, I.H...
; in Peshawar, gatherings were organised outside the Peshawar Press Club
Peshawar Press Club
The Peshawar Press Club is an organisation of journalists and professionals working in media in Peshawar, Pakistan. The press club was founded in 1964 after the need for journalists to sit and organise press conferences was raised...
and in Peshawar Cantonment
Peshawar Cantonment
Peshawar Cantonment is a cantonment adjacent to Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan....
. Scores of protesters expressed anger against the government for "shielding professional killers" and accused the Karachi-based Muttahida Qaumi Movement
Muttahida Qaumi Movement
Muttahida Qaumi Movement generally known as MQM, is a liberal-secular political party of Pakistan. It is generally known as a party which holds immense mobilizing potential in province of Sindh...
(MQM) for the killing, saying the party was perpetrating “ethnic cleansing of Pakhtuns, Baloch
Baloch people
The Baloch or Baluch are an ethnic group that belong to the larger Iranian peoples. Baluch people mainly inhabit the Balochistan region and Sistan and Baluchestan Province in the southeast corner of the Iranian plateau in Western Asia....
, Sindhis
Sindhi people
Sindhis are a Sindhi speaking socio-ethnic group of people originating from Sindh, a province Formerly of British India, now in Pakistan. Today Sindhis that live in Pakistan belong to various religious denominations including Islam, Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, Sikhism and Christianity...
and the Punjabis" although MQM leader Altaf Hussain
Altaf Hussain
Altaf Hussain is the founder and leader of the Muttahida Quami Movement . The MQM emerged as the third largest political party in the national assembly of Pakistan during 1988 and 1990 elections. The MQM secured representation in the parliamentary elections held in the northern areas of Pakistan...
denounced the killing. In the meantime, the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors termed Wali Khan as a "Martyr of Journalism." The Pashtun Awami National Party
Awami National Party
The Awami National Party is an Pashtun nationalist, socialist, centre-left political party in Pakistan affiliated with Socialist International...
announced a three-day mourning period while the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) declared a black day during which black flags were hoisted above media centers, press clubs and journalist offices. In a related development, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan
Human Rights Commission of Pakistan
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan , or HRCP, is an independent, non-profit organization, founded in 1987, which is not associated or affiliated with the government or any political party. It is committed to act with impartiality and objectivity in all matters...
called Babar's killing a "premeditated murder."
The killing was condemned by President Asif Ali Zardari
Asif Ali Zardari
Asif Ali Zardari is the 11th and current President of Pakistan and the Co-Chairman of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party . He is also the widower of Benazir Bhutto, who served two nonconsecutive terms as Prime Minister....
, interior minister Rehman Malik
Rehman Malik
27 April 2009 He has been the interior adviser since 27 March 2008.Senator A. Rehman Malik is a Pakistani politician, member of the Senate of Pakistan, and the current Interior Minister of Pakistan under the Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani administration. His Second name is Shetan Malik and he...
and Pakistan Muslim League (N)
Pakistan Muslim League (N)
The Pakistan Muslim League is a conservative political party in Pakistan, affiliated with Western conservatism...
leaders Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain
Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain
Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain is a politician from Pakistan who was the Prime Minister of that country from June 30, 2004 until August 28 2004...
and Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi
Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi
Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi , is a Pakistani politician. He was the Chief Minister of Pakistan's most populous province, Punjab, from 2002 to 2007. He is a senior leader and Provincial President of Pakistan Muslim League, Punjab....
. In a separate statement, former cricketer and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf is a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is "Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem".-Founding:...
chairman Imran Khan
Imran Khan
Imran Khan Niazi is a Pakistani politician and former Pakistani cricketer, playing international cricket for two decades in the late twentieth century. After retiring, he entered politics...
expressed his condolences and questioned the government's seriousness over addressing target killings. The Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa ordered a judicial inquiry following the news. An FIR
FIR
FIR or fir may refer to:*fir, a type of conifer tree*USCGC Fir, either of two buoy tenders of the United States Coast Guard*Fir , free ideal ring -Acronyms:* Falling In Reverse, a post-hardcore band...
was accordingly filed by the police to investigate the murder. A special segment was presented on his killing in Hamid Mir
Hamid Mir
Hamid Mir is a Pakistani journalist and editor. He is also a news anchor, terrorism expert, and security analyst who regularly participates in international conferences. He is also known for his columns in Urdu, Hindi, Bengali, and English newspapers and hosts a popular political talk show on Geo...
's current affairs program Capital Talk
Capital Talk
Capital Talk is a popular current events debate television program hosted by Hamid Mir that airs on GEO News.From its website: As Pakistan is a country where with advent of new day we see a new political development so it brings into forefront those political developments in such a manner so that...
.
On World Press Freedom Day, 2011, participants of a forum at the National Press Club
National Press Club
The National Press Club is a professional organization and private social club for journalists. It is located in Washington, D.C. Its membership consists of journalists, former journalists, government information officers, and those considered to be regular news sources. It is well-known for its...
and Newseum
Newseum
The Newseum is an interactive museum of news and journalism located at 555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. The seven-level, museum features 15 theaters and 14 galleries. The Newseum's Berlin Wall Gallery includes the largest display of sections of the Berlin Wall outside of Germany...
in Washington, D.C., called attention to world governments who licensed in order to punish news organizations that were critical of the government, as was the case for Pakistan that had used licensing to punish Geo News, for which Wali Khan had worked.
Personal life
Wali Khan was an ethnic PashtunPashtun people
Pashtuns or Pathans , also known as ethnic Afghans , are an Eastern Iranic ethnic group with populations primarily between the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan and the Indus River in Pakistan...
belonging to the Babar
Babar (tribe)
The Babar tribe is a Pakhtun tribe descending from Sarban, a son of Qais Abdur Rashid along with other tribes such as the Yusafzais, Tareens, Durranis and Mohmands....
tribe. He hailed from the town of Zhob
Zhob
-Roads:Zhob is 333 kilometers from Quetta, 225 kilometers from Dera Ismail Khan. However, the road linking with Dera Ismail Khan is for most part fair nowadays track passing through water streams and almost complete road is metalloid....
in Balochistan and was a vocal critic of the state's policies pertaining to the Balochistan conflict
Balochistan conflict
The Balochistan conflict is an ongoing conflict between Baloch nationalists and the Government of Pakistan over Balochistan, the country's largest province...
.
He held a Masters' degree in international relations from the University of Karachi
University of Karachi
The University of Karachi is a public university located in Karachi, Pakistan. It serves an on-campus student population of more than 24,000. According to the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, it is ranked among the top three universities of the country...
.
Before his death, he resided in Karachi's North Nazimabad
North Nazimabad
North Nazimabad is a suburb of North Nazimabad Town, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. North Nazimabad was developed in early 1950s to settle Muslim refugees in Pakistan.-History:...
suburb.
He left behind a widow mother, three sisters and four brothers.
His body was buried in Zhob
Zhob
-Roads:Zhob is 333 kilometers from Quetta, 225 kilometers from Dera Ismail Khan. However, the road linking with Dera Ismail Khan is for most part fair nowadays track passing through water streams and almost complete road is metalloid....
, his hometown.
The MQM Connection
According to latest online uploads of interrogations carried out by the Joint Investigation Team (ISIInter-Services Intelligence
The Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence , is Pakistan's premier intelligence agency, responsible for providing critical national security intelligence assessment to the Government of Pakistan...
, MI
Military Intelligence of Pakistan
In Pakistan Defence Forces, the Directorate-General for the Military Intelligence , is a Pakistan Defence Forces intelligence agency and that is responsible for the military counter-intelligence. It also refers specifically to the intelligence components of the Pakistan Armed Forces. Unlike the...
, CID, IB), it was established that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement
Muttahida Qaumi Movement
Muttahida Qaumi Movement generally known as MQM, is a liberal-secular political party of Pakistan. It is generally known as a party which holds immense mobilizing potential in province of Sindh...
(MQM) of Altaf Hussain
Altaf Hussain
Altaf Hussain is the founder and leader of the Muttahida Quami Movement . The MQM emerged as the third largest political party in the national assembly of Pakistan during 1988 and 1990 elections. The MQM secured representation in the parliamentary elections held in the northern areas of Pakistan...
was found involved in the planned target killing of Wali Khan Babar. In this regard, a video of the confession by the killer Muhammad Shahrukh also surfaced in which he mentions his political affiliation to that of Altaf Hussain's MQM
Muttahida Qaumi Movement
Muttahida Qaumi Movement generally known as MQM, is a liberal-secular political party of Pakistan. It is generally known as a party which holds immense mobilizing potential in province of Sindh...
.
External links
- Wali Khan Babar on FacebookFacebookFacebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
- Deadly business