Today, a suicide bomber attacked the Peshawar Press Club, where long-time OEN writer Muhammad Khurshid is not only a member and regular attendee, but also a presidential candidate. I interviewed him by gmail chat for over an hour.
Muhammad Khurshid
According to Khurshid, no journalists were killed, though some were injured. Several security guards and an accountant were killed. Khurshid was unharmed.
Asked why the Press Club was attacked, Khurshid replied that there was no clear answer yet, but speculated that it was an attack on all journalists.
The president of the press club, Shamim Shahid, is the Peshawar correspondent for Voice of America (VOA). Of note, VOA which is funded by the U.S. Congress, is the official external
broadcasting service of the United States federal government. There are also journalists with BBC, AP, AFP, Skynews and other Western media. As noted in the attached transcript, Khurshid writes, "Now they are in terror. Now they want to postpone the election as the building of the press club [press club building] is also in a shamble."
Muhammad Khurshid
According to Khurshid, no journalists were killed, though some were injured. Several security guards and an accountant were killed. Khurshid was unharmed.
Asked why the Press Club was attacked, Khurshid replied that there was no clear answer yet, but speculated that it was an attack on all journalists.
Here is my interview with Khurshid transcribed directly from our gmail chat:
Rob Kall: now, what about the journalists with BBC, AP, AFP, Skynews and other Western media?
Muhammad Khurshid: Because they are being paid heavily by the VOA, BBC and AP and other agencies. The today news has created a lot of opportunities for them to generate money.
They have supported and created Taliban as all their news are getting attention.An interview of a Taliban leader is being sold for thousand dollars.
Rob Kall: Why they have been supporting Taliban?
Muhammad Khurshid: Because they have been creating opportunities for themselves. They are the reporters.
Rob Kall: What they will do after restoration of peace and order?
Rob Kall: now, what about the journalists with BBC, AP, AFP, Skynews and other Western media?
Muhammad Khurshid: Because they are being paid heavily by the VOA, BBC and AP and other agencies. The today news has created a lot of opportunities for them to generate money.
They have supported and created Taliban as all their news are getting attention.An interview of a Taliban leader is being sold for thousand dollars.
Rob Kall: Why they have been supporting Taliban?
Muhammad Khurshid: Because they have been creating opportunities for themselves. They are the reporters.
Rob Kall: What they will do after restoration of peace and order?
Muhammad Khurshid: I think many western agencies have also been using this opportunity for gaining something.
There are many people who have made war as their source of income.
Rob Kall: I am afraid this is true of many in the media worldwide.
There are many people who have made war as their source of income.
Rob Kall: I am afraid this is true of many in the media worldwide.
Muhammad Khurshid: Yes my dear sir. Now this is a media war.
Rob Kall: Can you give me some basic details of the bombing. What was the local time it happened, who was the bomber, how was the bomb delivered? How many injured in addition to the four killed?
Muhammad Khurshid: The time was 11.45 Pakistan Standard Time. Eighteen others were injured.The bomber was trying to enter the press club building.But he was stopped by the security guards for checking.At that point he blasted himself.
Rob Kall: What did you see, hear, etc. as an eyewitness?
Rob Kall: Can you give me some basic details of the bombing. What was the local time it happened, who was the bomber, how was the bomb delivered? How many injured in addition to the four killed?
Muhammad Khurshid: The time was 11.45 Pakistan Standard Time. Eighteen others were injured.The bomber was trying to enter the press club building.But he was stopped by the security guards for checking.At that point he blasted himself.
Rob Kall: What did you see, hear, etc. as an eyewitness?
Muhammad Khurshid: I was sitting in the computer room.
And was writing something when I heard a huge blast.We ran out of the room.We saw the dead and injured.Then all the journalists start running for saving their lives.That was really terrible time.
And was writing something when I heard a huge blast.We ran out of the room.We saw the dead and injured.Then all the journalists start running for saving their lives.That was really terrible time.
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