Pakistani Journalist Killed In Tribal Area

MIRANSHAH, Pakistan -- Unidentified attackers have shot dead a local journalist in Pakistan's northwestern tribal region.

Malak Mumtaz was killed on February 27 in front of the local press club in Miranshah, the main town of the North Waziristan tribal area.

Mumtaz worked for the Geo private news television station.

No one has claimed responsibility.

The tribal areas along the border with Afghanistan are a haven for Islamist militants.

But Ehsanullah Ehsan, a spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban, in a telephone call with French news agency AFP, condemned the killing and denied any involvement by the umbrella Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) group.

According to Reporters Without Borders, Pakistan was the third-deadliest country for journalists last year, behind Syria and Somalia, with 10 killed in connection with their work.

With reporting by AFP and AP