“I condemn the killing of Muhammad Umar,” the Director-General said. “Attacks on journalists threaten freedom of expression and the media’s ability to keep society informed. Such crimes cannot be allowed go unpunished.”

Muhammad Umar, a correspondent for local newspaper Daily Dera was shot in the town of Dera Ismail Khan, in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province on 16 January.

The Director-General of UNESCO issues statements on the killing of media workers in line with Resolution 29 adopted by UNESCO Member States at the Organization’s General Conference of 1997, entitled “Condemnation of Violence against Journalists.” These statements are posted on a dedicated webpage, UNESCO condemns the killing of journalists.