Pakistan: Yet another attack on journalist couple.

Journalist couple shot at in Pakistan, both unhurt

Imtiaz Ahmad, Hindustantimes.com 
Islamabad, November 02, 2012

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First Published: 22:35 IST(2/11/2012)
Last Updated: 00:06 IST(3/11/2012)

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Another attack was witnessed in Pakistan on media persons on Friday when unidentified persons fired shots at the vehicle of journalist couple Marvi Sirmed and Sirmed Manzoor. Marvi Sirmed is a freelance journalist and works for a UN agency while Sirmed Manzoor is associated with the South Asia Free Media Association.

The couple said that as they were reaching the house in the evening on Korang Road near the Bani Gala area, two shots were fired from a waiting car. They escaped unhurt but shaken. They said that possibly the attackers wanted to scare the couple and that after the attackers fled, a third shot was fired in their direction.

The couple said that this was not a random incident of robbery but more a targeted attempt at scaring them.

Both Marvi and Sirmed are seen as pro-India by various quarters, including the ISI. In the past, their house in the F11 area of Islamabad was ransacked when they were on a visit to India.

She said that her colleagues had warned her a few days ago that a white sedan would wait for them to leave the office and then follow their car. Marvi has been attacked in the past for her views on India and on the rise in religious militancy. She has also been attacked for appearing in TV talk shows wearing a sari and a bindi on her forehead.

Pak Taliban threat

Meanwhile, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan has declared war on the Karachi-based Muttahida Qaumi Movement in what is being seen as a retaliation to that party’s proposed referendum against what it calls the ‘Talibanisation’ of the country. In a hard-hitting statement issued on Friday, the TTP said that it would target the MQM and its leaders.
The TTP issued a four page statement in Urdu that was sent to all media houses in Peshawar. In this statement, it said that it would would assasinate MQM leaders and attack MQM offices in the country.
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