The Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) has strongly condemned the murder of Shujaat Bukhari, a senior Kashmiri journalist and editor of daily Rising Kashmir (Srinagar), and termed the death of Shujaat Bukhari a great and irreparable loss to free speech and human rights in the region. In a statement, CPNE President Arif Nizami described the murder as an attempt to thwart every voice unveiling the brutality by force. He said that the killing Bukhari was a severe blow to freedom of press and free expression, which should be condemned with full force. Paying tribute to slain journalist, Nizami said that Shujaat Bukhari was a brave and fearless journalist who was a strong advocate of peace in Kashmir. “Bukhari contributed a lot by his participation in several conferences held in Pakistan and India as well in other parts of the world for peace in the Kashmir. His in-depth, analytical and objective reporting from the valley got him recognition on the national and international level.” HE appreciated all major media bodies for describing the Bukhari’s murder as an “assault on the freedom of the press.” “The editors and journalist community of Pakistan is deeply saddened over the murder of Shujaat Bukhari and extends its condolences to the bereaved family in this hour of crisis,” the statement added. Published in Daily Times, June 19th 2018.