Journalists are killed again in Pakistan, accusations are directed at the army

May 25, 2024 7:51 am

A journalist was shot earlier this week in Pakistan’s southern Sindh province. He died on Friday after a few days in critical condition. It is reported that five media workers were killed in the country this year.

Doctors and officials have confirmed the death of journalist Nasrullah Gadani. He was undergoing treatment at a hospital in the provincial capital Karachi after being shot by unidentified assailants in a remote area of Sindh district on Tuesday. No one claimed responsibility for the attack.

Colleagues of the slain journalist said his reporting continued to highlight the civil problems that plagued the impoverished Sindh province. Gadani also criticized the powerful feudal lords of the region. Because of this, the police arrested him repeatedly. This is what Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir mentioned on his X (formerly Twitter) handle.

News of Gadani’s death sparked outrage among journalists and members of civil society; This led to demonstrations and protests demanding justice for the slain journalist.

Provincial Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said in a statement, “I am deeply saddened and saddened along with Nasrullah’s family and the media organizations he worked for.” Critics have accused the Shah government of being behind several recent attacks on media workers in Sindh province.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, a leading independent rights watchdog, said it was “deeply concerned” about the situation facing journalists in the country. They called on the Sindh government to investigate Gadani’s murder and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Meanwhile, the Committee to Protect Journalists or CPJ has pressed Pakistan to immediately reveal the location of freelance journalist and poet Ahmad Farhad Shah.

Syeda Uruz Zainab, Shah’s wife, accused the Pakistani spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence, or ISI, of abducting Shah to act against Pakistan’s powerful military establishment.

The Islamabad High Court judge on Friday summoned senior officials of the country’s intelligence agency, including the ISI, after hearing the case. The next date of hearing has been fixed on May 29. Today, their response will be heard in view of that complaint.

Amnesty International wrote in the X-Handle on Friday, “His whereabouts are still unknown.” Ahmad spoke fearlessly about state oppression and forced expulsions in the past.’