Taliban attack Pakistan's Aaj TV station in Karachi

The Pakistani Taliban says it carried out the attack on Monday night on a private television station in the southern port city of Karachi.
Two people were injured when gunmen on motorbikes fired at Aaj headquarters.

A Taliban spokesman told the BBC it was a response to critical comments by Aaj about the militants and its failure to accommodate Taliban views.

Correspondents say this is the Taliban's first direct attack against a media group.

The Pakistani Taliban admitted killing a journalist in the volatile region of Mohmand in January.

Nevertheless, Pakistan ranks as one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists.

Witnesses say gunmen on motorbikes opened fire on the station' s offices in the busy Karachi neighbourhood of Gurumandir and then immediately fled the scene.

Both of those injured were reportedly employees of Aaj.

Aaj TV is a privately owned Urdu-language television station that covers national and international news.

from BBC
26 June 2012 Last updated at 06:33 GMT
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Karachi: The terror group Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the firing attack which left 2 people injured including a security guard in Karachi.

from Aaj TV:
By: Bilal Khan, Uploaded: 26th June 2012 (15 hours ago)


In a sadistic statement issued over the phonecall to Aaj News, the TTP spokesperson said, “It is stated that Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan accept the attack on Media Channel Aaj TV for the firing attack”. The spokesperson for TTP further said that this was due to the reason that the Jihadi Movement event was not given full coverage and they will continue further attacks if proper coverages are not provided.

The dreadful incident rattled the media industry on Monday when Aaj TV office was targeted by four armed men who opened fire and fled the crime scene. The terrible incident resulted in two employees of the office being injured.

The incident marked another attack on media with several questions raised. The attacks have been condemned by the President and the Primeminister. Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, along with his condemnation, stated that proper measure would be taken to provide protection to media personnel within the country. The PM further ordered the apprehension of the miscreants by the earliest possible time.

Related articles

• Taliban attack television office in Karachi; two injured (dawn.com)
• Taliban attack Pakistan's Aaj TV (bbc.co.uk)
• Gunmen Attack Karachi TV Station (rferl.org)
• Two wounded in attack on Pakistan TV office-police (dailystar.com.lb)

Posted in: Karachi, Pakistan, Taliban, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan