Journalists have announced that they will close Quetta Press Club (QPC) on Monday as part of a protest movement against the killing of three colleagues.
On August 28, gunmen barged into the office of Online News Agency in KabirBuilding area on Quetta’s Jinnah Road and killed its Bureau Chief Irshad Mastoi, reporter Abdul Rasool and accountant Muhammad Younas.
“We will close QPC from 9 am to 6 pm as a sign of protest,” Balochistan Union of Journalists (BUJ) President Irfan Saeed announced while addressing a protest rally on Sunday. The BUJ president said that Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has also assured the closure of press clubs across the country on Monday as sign of solidarity with the journalists of Balochistan.
Members of BUJ and QPC marched on Qandahari Bazar, Bacha Khan Chowk and other roads of Quetta to mourn the triple murder. They flashed banners and placards and chanted slogans against attacks on media and demanded that the government ensure security of journalists in Quetta and other troubled parts of Balochistan.