Click to play videoNew Delhi: A Geo TV reporter was killed in the Swat province of Pakistan by unknown gunmen on Wednesday. The slain TV journalist had been covering Taliban in Pakistan.
"Musa was not only shot but also decapitated. He was continuously facing problems while reporting in Swat. The mood of celebration has converted into mourning," prominent Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir said.
According to Dawn News Musa Khan had received death threats from the local Taliban in the past.
Pakistan Federal Union of Journalist (PFUJ) has strongly condemned the murder of Musa Khan and have called for a nationwide protest on Thursday.
Musa Khan was killed in Matta town. The slain reporter's body will be taken to his hometown in Mingora city shortly.
This incident comes hours after the Taliban took out another rally in Mingora in Swat. The rally celebrated the new code now to be official in the region.
Matta town is incidentally the same place where radical cleric, Sufi Mohammad, who spearheaded the deal with the government is meeting his son-in-law Maulana Fazlullah, the current head of the Taliban in Swat. The two men are to finalise the details of the deal.
Sufi Mohammad had said he was confident about getting the Taliban to end their war against the government and that he will persuade the Taliban fighters to lay down arms.
Swat region and the Taliban element
The Islamic Sharia law will now govern all aspects of life in the region. The Swat Valley, which is also known as the Switzerland of Pakistan, is now under the control of Taliban.
For the past many years, it has been the scene of fierce battle between the Taliban and Pakistani forces.
Following the imposition of Sharia law and the peace deal, guns have finally fallen silent in the region.
The Pakistan government on Monday signed a truce with the Taliban and local hardliners accepting imposition of the Islamic law in an attempt to curb terrorism in the Valley.
Musa Khan's killing condemned widely
There has been widespread outrage over Musa Khan's killing.
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has said that the culprits behind Musa Khan's killing will not be spared.
Pakistan's Information Minister Sherry Rehman said that the murder of the journalist was an attack on journalism.
Pakistan government has assured that it will look after the financial well-being of the slain reporter's family.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Interior Ministry chief Rahman Mallik has demanded a report be prepared on why and how the Geo TV reporter was killed.
Spokesperson for the Tehrik-e-Taaliban spoke to CNN-IBN about reporter Musa Khan's killing. He said, "This is not acceptable to us. This is against Islam."
Home Secretary of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) of Pakistan said to CNN-IBN, "We are concerned about these incidents. We have to investigate further. Peace talks will not be affected after this. We will provide additional security to journalists soon. We will bring peace to this region."
Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has condemned the act and demanded firm action be taken against the perpetrators of the crime.
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