Razzaq Gul

Razzaq Gul (1977(?) – 19 May 2012) was a senior Pakistani journalist covering war and politics for Express News in Turbat, Pakistan who was abducted on 18 May 2012 and his dead body was found the following day. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists,

Razzaq Gul was the 22nd journalist to have been murdered in the area of Balochistan, listed as one of the most dangerous places for reporters in Pakistan, over a four-year period, and he was one of eight Pakistani journalists killed since Jan 2011.

Personal Razzaq Gul, 35, native of Pakistan, was taken against his will and executed while working as a journalist in Turbat, Pakistan. After being identified by his brother, Gul was buried in his hometown of Singhania Sir.

Career Razzaq Gul was a television journalist covering war and politics for at least 10 years for Express News in the Balochistan province in Turbat, Pakistan. Gul was the secretary of the Press Club located in Turbat and he was a member of the nationalist political organisation, Baloch National Movement His body was found the next morning, 19 May 2012, with at least 15 bullet holes and evidence of torture. The unknown assailants discarded the body close to the Old Civil Hospital located in Turbat. Research has placed Pakistan at the top of the list for countries posing the most danger to journalists . Since 2008, there have been at least 27 reporters and news personnel executed in Pakistan.

Reactions Reaction to Razzaq Gul's murder was strong and swift. Owais Aslam Ali, secretary general of Pakistan Press International, said journalists in Balochistan need protection to make it possible for them to report the facts as it has become almost impossible for them to do their jobs. Balochistan Union of Journalists called for a mourning period of three days which began 1 June 2012 Demonstrations took place in Turbat and surrounding areas with shops closing and protestors marching as they chanted for Gul's murderers to be brought to justice. The protesters said they did not want Razzaq Gul or any other innocent civilian or media worker to be just another name on a list of the dead that goes unsolved.