Pakistan: Journalist’s home attacked in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Unidentified assailants opened fire at the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa residence of journalist Ihsan Khattak on February 12, after a number of reported threats against him. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its affiliate, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), condemn the attack, urging the Pakistani government to ensure a thorough investigation and prevent ongoing impunity for violence against the country's media community.

The residence of journalist Ihsan Khattak was fired on by unidentified assailants on February 12, 2026. Credit: X

The unknown attackers fired on the main gate of Khattak's property in Kotka Jandar Khel village in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Bannu district shortly after he entered, damaging the gate and outer walls. Khattak, a correspondent for ARY News and a former president of the Bannu Press Club, managed to escape unhurt, with no other casualties reported.

The journalist, who often reported on cases of crime and terrorism in the region, had reportedly faced multiple threats prior to the attack, with three armed men on a motorcycle following Khattak in his vehicle as he left a reporting assignment on February 5, among other similar incidents in recent weeks. Khattak had relocated to Islamabad in 2017 and applied for protection with Saddar Police Station after an unknown caller allegedly threatened his family. He said the threats returned when he returned to Bannu in 2023.

According to the Station House Officer of Banu City Police Station, Allah Nawaz Khan, a case has been registered with an investigation is currently underway. Following the incident, police issued an advisory urging Khattak to adopt additional security measures on February 16.

The PFUJ said: "The security situation Khyber Pakhtunkhwahas been alarming and increasingly unsafe for the working journalists. It is the duty of the state to provide a safe working environment for all journalists. More stringent measures are needed to ensure journalists' rights are protected."

The IFJ said: "The targeted shooting at Ihsan Khattak's residence is a chilling reminder of the pervasive culture of impunity and the escalating risks faced by journalists across Pakistan. The authorities mustprovide tangible protection to media workers, particularly those who have reported credible threats to their safety. The IFJ urges the authorities to conduct a swift investigation into this attack and to hold the perpetrators accountable."