Unesco condemns TV journalist's murder in Pakistan

The UN cultural organisation Unesco has deplored last week's killing of TV reporter Noorul Hassan in Pakistan and called on the country's authorities to bring to justice those responsible for the attack.

"I condemn the attack that claimed the life of (reporter) Noorul Hassan and left his colleague injured," Unesco's Director-General Audrey Azoulay said in a statement on Tuesday.

"I call on the authorities to spare no effort in seeking out those responsible for this crime and bringing them to justice. This is indispensable to deter violence against the media and against the public's right to information," the statement added.

Hassan and his cameraman were driving along Peshawar's ring road when unidentified gunmen riding a motorcycle opened fire on their car on December 3.

The men were taken to a hospital where Hassan died from his injuries, while the cameraman was left in a critical condition. 

No one has been arrested so far over the shootings, which the police were investigating as a target killing.

Hassan's murder has been condemned by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists and by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), which urged Islamabad to take "immediate action".

Five journalists have been killed in Pakistan this year alone, according to the IFJ. - IANS