KARACHI: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CJP) on Wednesday welcomed the conviction of Geo News reporter, Wali Khan Babar’s killers, Geo News reported.

Wail Babar, 28, covered the seamy side of Karachi, a sweltering port mega city of 18 million people. He reported on drugs, crime, militancy and deadly turf struggles between the city’s main political parties. He was shot dead on January 13, 2011 as he left work.

Talking exclusively to Geo News, Bob Dietz, coordinator of CPJ’s Asia Program, said that it was a significant development in terms of serving justice but convicting merely the “hands” was not enough as the “heads” who masterminded Babar’s murder were yet free to continue with their murderous intrigues.

“Netting the small fry won’t help until the big fish were harpooned”, said he.

He also lauded the police, who, despite a lot of political pressure, performed their duty honestly.

“Though, there were many a legal lacuna in the way the case was pled, however, the final judgment turned out to be a milestone for Pakistan”, Deitz said further.

He said the government and the Supreme Court of Pakistan were serious about safeguarding journalists.

“It is evident from their sincere efforts in Babar’s murder case. I must say it speaks volumes for their bona fide intent for the cause.”

The Committee to Protect Journalists is an American independent nonprofit organization, based in New York City, New York, that promotes press freedom and defends the rights of journalists.

Geo News