CPJ condoles death of Pak scribe in Karachi bombings

New York, Oct 20 (UNI) The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has expressed grief over the death of ARY One World TV cameraman Muhammad Arif in the Thursday bombing in Pakistan.

In a statement released yesterday, CPJ's executive director Joel Simon said, ''We send our condolences to his wife and six children.

Journalists on the frontline of breaking news events realise the dangers they face, but we are always saddened to learn that a colleague has lost his life or has been seriously injured.'' At least 139 people were killed and over 550 were injured in the twin blasts, which took place during a political rally for former prime minister Benazir Bhutto in Karachi on her return after eight years of exile.

The News, an English-language daily with offices throughout Pakistan, reported that Abid Ali of Dawn News TV was seriously injured.

Others injured included Rashid Ali Panhwar, a reporter associated with APP's Electronic News Gathering service; Talat Anjum, a cameraman with Punjabi-language news channel Apna; and Syed Athar Hussain, a photographer with the Karachi-based daily Jurrat.

The men were among the crowd on the 32 km route from the airport to the center of Karachi.

''We extend our condolences to these men's families and to their co-workers,'' Mr Simon added.

CPJ is a New York-based independent, non-profit organisation working to safeguard press freedom throughout the world.

UNI