The chief minister has expressed concern over the situation and has issued standing orders to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Nasir Khan Durrani to tell that why progress was not made after the registration of the last two attacks on the residence of journalist and the accused were not brought to justice.

Business Recorder

The assailants fled the scene. Baghwan and his wife rushed back into their home shortly before the explosion occurred, according to local reports. The explosion damaged the windows and exterior of Baghwan’s home and car. No one was injured, reports said.

Baghwan said he had not received any threats recently, according to the Tribune. Authorities launched an investigation into the attack.

Baghwan’s home was also attacked in March and April 2014. No group immediately claimed responsibility for any of the attacks, according to the Pakistan-based Freedom Network, a local media watchdog group.

Committee to Protect Journalists

Reporters Without Borders condemns today’s bombing of the home of Jamshed Baghwan, Express News TV’s bureau chief in Peshawar. It was the third attempt to target Baghwan and his family with an explosive device since March and the latest in an 11-month-old string of attacks on Express Media group personnel and installations, some of which have been claimed by the Taliban.

Left in a milk pack in front of the house by men on a motorcycle, today’s home-made bomb damaged the outside of the building but caused no injuries when it was set off by a timer at 11 am.

“We are outraged by this latest murder attempt targeting an Express News journalist and his family,” said Benjamin Ismaïl, the head of the Reporters Without Borders Asia-Pacific desk. “We urge the authorities to react quickly and to assign security personnel to protect their home.”

“My family members and I are all safe, thank God,” Baghwan told RWB. “More than one kilogram of explosives was used in the attack. Today’s blast was bigger than the previous ones.”

Asked who he thought was behind the bombs, Baghwan said: “The enemy is unknown. I am clueless as to why these elements are targeting my house. I see no reason to believe that these attacks are unrelated to my profession.”

Although no group has claimed the bomb attacks on Baghwan’s home, the police think the same people were behind them, and that the motive may have been to put pressure on him and other journalists.

Baghwan also expressed dismay at the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial government’s failure to protect him. “No-one from the government side has contacted me since these bombs started going off outside my home. I’ve not been provided any security nor has the information minister expressed any solidarity with me.”

The attacks on Express News began in August 2013, when shots were fired at its headquarters in Karachi. It was the target of shots and bombs again in December. Three of its employees were shot dead in Karachi in January. And, on 28 March, shots were fired at a car carrying star programme host Raza Rumi, killing his driver and injuring his bodyguard.

Some of these attacks have been claimed by Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, which said it acted to combat the negative coverage it was getting from Express News and other media.

Pakistan is ranked 158th out of 180 countries in the 2014 Reporters Without Borders press freedom index.

Reporters Without Borders

A remote-controlled explosive material was placed by the unidentified men, outside the residence of Bhagwan, and it exploded while the journalist was at home.

The Express Tribune reported that Bhagwan was leaving his house along with his wife when he saw unidentified persons on motorcycle placing a homemade bomb at the door. The bomb exploded as soon as Bhagwan and his wife ran inside their house to take cover.

There were no casualties but the main gate, window panes and car were damaged.

Earlier this year on March 19,ban improvised explosive device (IED) with two kilograms of explosives was found in front of his house which was subsequently defused by the Bomb Disposal Squad. On April 6, 2014 two masked men riding a motorcycle threw a hand grenade at the main gate of house which went off with a loud bang damaging the gate. The journalist and his family members remained unhurt.

Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) General Secretary Amin Yousuf, Khyber Union of Journalists (KhUJ) President Nisar Mahmood strongly condemned the attack on Bhagwan’s house.

Pakistan Press Foundation

The protestors, who came out from the Peshawar Press Club in a procession, were led by Khyber Union of Journalists (KhUJ) President Nisar Mahmood and Peshawar Press Club President Nasir Hussain. The protesters were holding banners and placards demanding protection to mediapersons and the arrest of the attackers.

Addressing the protesting journalists, the KhUJ president condemned the attack on the residence of Jamshed Baghwan, bureau chief of a private television channel, and described it an attempt to gag voice of the journalists. He said it was not the first incident but over 100 journalists had lost their lives in the line of duty across the country.

“The attackers, whoever they may be, cannot suppress our voice through such mean tactics because journalists are ready to render sacrifices for fulfilling their professional duties at all costs without succumbing to any pressure,” he said.The press club president said it was duty of the government to hold an inquiry into the matter and unveil the offenders involved in the terrorist act.

He said that targeting the journalists was meant to silence voice of the society. He said that it was the second attack on the journalist as previously an improvised explosive device had been recovered from the locality.

A large number of media people attended the protest and chanted slogans seeking protection to the journalists. Former provincial minister and ANP leader Mian Iftikhar Hussain also visited the Press Club to express solidarity with the journalists and condemn the attack on Jamshed Baghwan’s house.

The News

Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan had claimed the responsibility for that while no one has yet claimed the responsibility for the second attack. This is the sixth attack on same media group in 2013-14.

Two masked men riding on a motorcycle threw a hand grenade at the main gate of journalist’s house which went off with a loud bang damaging the main gate of the house. Journalist and his family members remained unhurt.

Pakistan federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) General Secretary Amin Yousuf, Khyber Union of Journalists (KhUJ) President Nisar Mahmood, Peshawar Press Club (PPC) and Crimes and Terrorism Journalists Forum President Javed Aziz Khan condemned the attack on Baghwan and other journalists across the country. They demanded the federal and provincial governments to properly probe the threats and attacks and provide security to the media persons.

PFUJ and KhUJ staged protest demonstration today April 7 at 1 pm outside the Peshawar Press Club.

Pakistan Press Foundation

The main gate of the house was damaged in the attack which happened just over two weeks after an explosive device was found and subsequently defused by the Bomb Disposal Squad near Baghwan’s house.

Around 6:25am two masked men riding on a motorcycle threw a hand grenade at the main gate of Baghwan’s house which went off with a loud bang.

According to the police, it was a China-made grenade. “We’ve registered an FIR on the complaint of Jamshed Baghwan,” an official of the Yakatot police station told The Express Tribune.

Talking about the 2kg device found on March 19 outside Baghwan’s house, he said that it was defused because it was spotted by the family on time.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s Minister for Industries Shaukat Ali Yousafzai condemned the attack and ordered investigation.

Baghwan is a senior journalist and the attack on his house is, in fact, an attack on free media, Yousafzai said. It’s the government responsibility to protect journalists, he added and directed the city police chief to consult media persons and chalk out a security plan for them.

Meanwhile, the Khyber Union of Journalists (KhUJ) condemned the attack and demanded thorough investigation.

KhUJ President Nisar Mehmood and General Secretary Tariq Afaq said Baghwan is a senior journalist and such attacks would not be tolerated. The government should fulfill its responsibility to protect journalists.

The KhUJ will stage a demonstration outside the Peshawar Press Club at 1pm on Monday to protest against the attack.

Express Tribune