Geneva: The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), an international media safety and rights organization, has strongly condemned the killing of Balochistan-based journalist Lala Israfil Khan and called for a transparent investigation to ensure those responsible are brought to justice.
Lala Israfil Khan, 35, a contributor to Hum News and several other media outlets, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in the Musakhel area of Pakistan’s Balochistan province on Saturday evening. The incident has triggered widespread condemnation from journalist bodies across Pakistan.
The Rural Media Network Pakistan and the Balochistan Union of Journalists denounced the murder and urged authorities to launch an immediate inquiry to uncover the motives behind the killing and prosecute those involved.
Reacting to the incident, Blaise Lempen, President of the Press Emblem Campaign, described the murder as a serious attack on press freedom.
“We strongly condemn the assassination of Lala Israfil Khan. He is the first journalist to be killed in Pakistan this year and the 34th media professional slain worldwide in 2026,” Lempen said. He called on Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti to ensure a thorough investigation and bring all perpetrators to justice.
Lempen also urged the Pakistani government to address the broader issue of violence against journalists, stressing the need to end the culture of impunity surrounding attacks on media workers. He referred to concerns repeatedly raised by the Pakistan Press Foundation regarding assaults on journalists across the country.
PEC’s South and Southeast Asia representative Nava Thakuria described Lala Israfil as a courageous journalist known for highlighting public grievances and demanding accountability from authorities.
“Beyond his professional work, he was widely respected in his community as a dignified and principled individual,” Thakuria said.
The latest killing has once again raised concerns over the safety of journalists in Pakistan. According to media rights groups, at least five journalists — A.D. Shar, Abdul Latif, Syed Mohammed Shah, Imtiaz Mir, and Tufail Rind — were killed in Pakistan in 2025, underscoring the persistent risks faced by media professionals in the country.
