Attack on the Online International News Network
The attack on the Online International News Network was an attack on the office of the news agency, located in Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan, on August 28, 2014, that resulted in the killing of journalists Irshad Mastoi and Ghulam Rasool, as well as accountant Mohammed Younus.[1][2][3]
| Attack on the Online International News Network | |
|---|---|
| Part of Balochistan conflict | |
| Location | Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan |
| Target | Online International News Network |
Attack type | Armed attack |
| Weapons | 9 mm |
| Deaths | 3 |
| Victims | 2 journalists, 1 media worker |
| Perpetrators | 2 |
| Motive | Attack on journalists |
Attack
On August 28 two gunmen broke into Mastoi's office, located on the second story of the Kabirwala Building, on Jinnah Road in downtown Quetta.[4][5] Senior journalist Mastio and two others were gunned down by a 9 mm.[6] The other victims were trainee reporter Ghulam Rasool, also known as Abdul Rasul, and accountant Mohammed Younus.[7] Mastio was the first killed, and it was later reported that he had been receiving threats.[6] Only Rasul, a student at the University of Balochistan in Quetta, made it to the hospital, where he died from his wounds.[6]
Arrest
Arrests were made a full year after the murder. The two arrested men were brought to a press conference presented by Sarfaraz Bugti, who is the provincial home minister in Balochistan. Bugti announced their affiliation with the Balochistan Liberation Army, who are secessionists, played a tape of their confession, and also accused the suspects of killing Habib Jalib Baloch, leader of the Balochistan National Party, in 2010. In all the suspects were accused by Bugti of killing 27 people.[8][9][10] The suspects were identified by Bugti as Shafqat Ali Rohdini, also known as Naveed, from Khuzdar and Mohammad Ibrahieem, a.k.a. Shah Jee, from Quetta.[10]
Shafqat Ali Rohdini, confessed that he was working for Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) since 2000. He claimed that he was ordered to kill Irshad Mastoi by Aslam Baloch alias Achu. Aslam Baloch was one of the leader of BLA.[11]
Irshad Mastoi
Irshad Mastoi | |
|---|---|
| Born | ca. 1980 Jacobabad, Balochistan, Pakistan |
| Died | August 28, 2014 Quetta, Pakistan |
| Cause of death | Shot with 9mm |
| Resting place | Numaish Ground graveyard, Jacobabad |
| Other names | Arshad Mustoi |
| Occupation | Journalist |
| Employer | Online International News Network & ARY News |
| Organization | Secretary General of Balochistan Union of Journalists (BUJ) |
Personal background
Irshad Mastoi, also known as Arshad Mustoi was originally from the city of Jacobabad.[12] He was a father to three children that were all under the age of four at the time of his death.[6] He was 34 at the time he was murdered and is buried in the cemetery known as Numaish Ground in Jacobabad.[12]
Career
Mastoi was the bureau chief at Online International News Network and news assignment editor at ARY News.[12]
Mastoi's career had been rocky for a while. In December 2009 while covering the signing ceremony of the 7th NFC award in Gwadar he got shocked by a wire to close to his hotel window. His hand hit it while trying to discard a cigarette and resulted in his right hand having to be amputated. After months of depression he overcame odds and started typing with his left hand. He had hopes of getting aid from an international or national organization to get a bionic arm but had no such luck.[6]
Mastio held the position of general secretary of Balochistan Union of Journalists.
Reactions
After the death of Irshad Mastio, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists asked that all its members to protest in an attempt to condemn his killing.[13][4]
Mastio was one of the fourteen journalist honored by the Newseum on June 9, 2015. The chief executive officer of the Newseum, Peter Prichard, said that "It is right, and just, that we pause today in our busy lives to remember what these journalists did, and why they did it." Kathy Gannon spoke of the dangers that journalists face, "As journalists, we join this profession because we are curious. We who go off to conflict areas are satisfying that curiosity to understand the why and how of war, and most especially, the who of those caught in the middle, the people."[14]
References
- Roy Greenslade (August 30, 2014). "Pakistani journalists shot dead in attack on news agency office". The Guardian (UK). Retrieved October 15, 2015.
- "Irshad Mastoi". Committee to Protect Journalists. August 28, 2014. Retrieved October 14, 2015.
- "Ghulam Rasool". Committee to Protect Journalists. August 28, 2014. Retrieved October 14, 2015.
- "Irshad Mastoi; yet another journalist killed in the line of duty". ARY News. August 28, 2014. Retrieved October 14, 2015.
- International Press Institute (August 28, 2014). "Irshad Mastoi and Abdul Rasul, Pakistan". International Press Institute. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved October 14, 2015.
- TNS Editor (September 7, 2014). "A deadly assignment". TNS - The News on Sunday. Retrieved October 14, 2015.
- Baloch, Shezad (August 28, 2014). "In the line of duty: Journalist Irshad Mastoi, reporter shot dead". The Express Tribune (Pakistan). Retrieved October 14, 2015.
- "Irshad Mastoi's killers arrested, says Balochistan home minister". ARY News. September 1, 2015. Retrieved October 14, 2015.
- Syed Ali Shah. "Two killers of journalists arrested in Quetta". dawn.com.
- "Two perpetrators involved in killing of journalist arrested". Daily Balochistan Express.
- "BLA insurgent on killing of journalist". 11 October 2016.
- "Slain journalist Irshad Mastoi laid to rest in Jacobabad". ARY News. August 29, 2014. Retrieved October 14, 2015.
- "PFUJ called for country wide Protest on killing of Journalists Irshad Mastoi & Others". Archived from the original on 2014-10-23.
- AFP. "Slain Pakistani journalist honoured by Newseum". dawn.com.