Unidentified gunmen killed senior journalist Khalil Jibran near his home in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Landi Kotal town, Geo News reported.

Jibran, who worked with a private news channel, was attacked by unidentified assailants on a motorcycle while heading home with his friend Sajjad Advocate, according to District Police Officer (DPO) Khyber Salim Abbas.

The journalist's car broke down near his home when gunmen surrounded him, dragged him from the vehicle, and opened fire, said the DPO. The incident occurred in the Mazreena area near Landi Kotal Police Station.

Jibran, the former president of the Landi Kotal Press Club, died at the scene, while Sajjad was injured. The assailants fled. Authorities transported Jibran's body to a Landi Kotal hospital for a post-mortem examination.

DPO Abbas stated that Jibran had previously received threats from terrorists. KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur took immediate notice of the incident and directed authorities to arrest the culprits responsible for the journalist's killing.

The Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors (AEMEND) criticised higher authorities for their failure to prevent such incidents, noting that journalists continue to face torture, abductions, and threats across the country.

Last month, another journalist, Nasrullah Gadani, from a Sindhi newspaper, was attacked by unidentified assailants near Korai Goth, 12 kilometres from Mirpur Mathelo. He was seriously wounded while riding his motorcycle.

Following the attack, police transported Gadani to Civil Hospital Mirpur Mathelo for emergency medical aid. He was later transferred to Rahim Yar Khan for surgery and then moved to Karachi via air ambulance for better treatment.

The Sindh government announced it would cover all medical expenses. Despite these efforts, Gadani succumbed to his wounds three days later.

Image source: ANI