Sunday, a man in the Sanghar district of Sindh was shot dead. Local police stated that the unknown assailants opened fire on the man, identified as Murtaza Shar, in the Jhol area of Sanghar district.
Murtaza suffered injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital. Nevertheless, he died during the treatment. While the attackers fled the scene, the police arrested suspect Ali Murad. They also found the weapon with him that he used in the killing.
As per the police, the accused killed Shar as a result of a personal enmity over a relationship dispute. A further investigation into the incident is underway, they added.
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According to various reports, Murtaza worked as a journalist associated with a private news TV channel. Soon after the incident, the SSP Sanghar took notice and ordered an inquiry. He claimed that the police contacted Sanghar Press Club President Anjum Aftab. He told him that the deceased did not belong to the journalist community.
Concern over Murtaza Shar’s murder
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry expressed his shock over the incident. He said that the security of journalists in Sindh has become a challenge. In a tweet, Fawad Chaudhry also said that the federal government will convey its deep concerns to the Sindh government regarding the matter.
“Shocking… .. Security of journalists inside Sindh has become a challenge, Chief Minister Murad Shah Chief Secretary and IG Sindh will be informed of the deep concern of the federal government on the issues of journalists,” Fawad Chaudhry tweeted.
Shocking….. اندرون سندہ صحافیوں کی سلامتی ایک چیلنج بن گیا ہے، وزیر اعلی ٰ مراد شاہ چیف سیکرٹری اور IG Sindh کو صحافیوں کے معاملات پر وفاقی حکومت کی گہری تشویش سے آگاہ کیا جائیگا https://t.co/MsC6T4l5gH
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) January 30, 2022
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader in Sindh Assembly Haleem Adil Sheikh, while condemning the incident, said that the killing of a journalist in broad daylight was a shameful act for the police.
“Killings of journalists have become a normality in Sindh… those who give lectures on freedom of speech in Islamabad are silent on killings of journalists in the province,” he added.
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The security of journalists is indeed a huge challenge for Pakistan. Recently, unidentified men shot dead senior crime reporter Hasnain Shah in broad daylight in front of the Lahore Press Club.
On February 16, 2020, journalist Aziz Memon’s body, tied with a wire around his neck, was recovered from a canal in Naushero Feroze.