BBC Monitoring

Text of report in English by Afghan independent Pajhwok news agency website

    Kabul, 1 June: A female television journalist was mysteriously shot dead in her home by unidentified assailants last night, a knowledgeable source confided to Pajhwok Afghan News today.

    Shakiba Sanga Amaj, associated with the private Shamshad TV channel, was killed at around 7.00pm in her Kabul residence, the source revealed without conjecturing about the motive behind the murder.

    A police official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, quoted a family member of the upcoming journalist as saying: Shakiba was shot in the back as soon as she called her mother from her room in their home in Karte Mamurin locality.

    She was lying in a pool of blood as relatives entered her room, according to the police official, who said the family remained tight-lipped about the killing for reasons best known to them.

    Despite hectic efforts, her employers could not be reached to confirm Shakiba's killing. An ethnic Pashtun, the Pakistani-educated woman had a good command of English, Urdu and Dari.

    The 22-year-old worked as a reporter and newscaster for Shamshad Television, where she was also the anchorwoman of a popular programme called Da Gudar Ghara.

    A female newscaster with Tolo Television, Shaima Rezaye, was shot in the forehead in her Kabul residence in March 2005. Two years on, the mystery of her murder is yet to be unravelled.

    Source: Pajhwok Afghan News website, Kabul, in English 1340 gmt 1 Jun 07