On May 3, Muhmmad Siddique Mengal, President of the Khuzdar Press Club and a journalist for the local newspaper Daily Baakhbar and Independent News Pakistan news agency, was killed in a bomb attack by an unidentified motorcyclist who placed a bomb on Mengal’s vehicle. Two others died in the blast, which also injured at least six people.
CPJ was unable to establish the motive behind Mengal’s killing and no group has claimed responsibility.
Mengal had received a written death threat the previous month, according to The Express Tribune.
In August 2023, Mengal survived an attempt on his life when two unidentified assailants opened fire on his car. Baluchistan has seen a decades-long insurgency against the government.
Police in Baluchistan province did not respond to CPJ’s request for comment via email.