CPJ welcomes convictions in Babar's murder

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published 11 years ago

NEW YORK: The Committee to Protect Journalists has welcomed the convictions of six defendants for their roles in the murder of Wali Khan Babar, a Geo TV journalist who was shot dead in Karachi in January 2011.

The convictions are the first in the murder of a Pakistani journalist but the CPJ has called on authorities to ensure the masterminds are brought to justice.

"These convictions mark a significant step in addressing the deep-rooted culture of impunity surrounding the murders of journalists in Pakistan. They indicate what can be achieved when the country's legal system commits itself to pursuing justice," said CPJ Asia Program Coordinator Bob Dietz. "But justice will remain incomplete until the masterminds in Wali Khan Babar's case are also brought to trial."

Judge Mushtaq Ahmed Leghari, who presided over a special Anti-Terrorism Court, sentenced Naveed Polka, Muhammad Ali Rizvi, Faisal Mahmood, and Mohammad Shahrukh Khan to life in prison, news reports said. Two others, Kamran (alias "Zeeshan") and Faisal Mota, who have not yet been arrested, were given the death sentence in absentia. A seventh man, Mohammed Shakeel, was acquitted for lack of evidence, the reports said.

In an alleged video confession posted on YouTube, Khan said he had been told to follow Babar as he was driving home from work, according to a Reuters report. He said Zeeshan had stepped in front of the journalist's car and shot him six to seven times. The video was authenticated to Reuters by the prosecutor, the report said.

CPJ issued a special report in May 2013, "Roots of Impunity," that documented the lead-up to Babar's murder and its aftermath. Babar had been threatened in connection with his coverage of political turf wars, extortion, targeted killings, electricity theft, and land-grabbing in the crime-ridden city of Karachi.

After Babar was slain, unidentified assailants murdered several individuals connected to the investigation, including a police informant, two police constables, and the brother of an investigating officer. In 2012, the one remaining witness in the case was also killed. He was due to testify in court two days later.

The original prosecutors in the case - Muhammad Khan Buriro and Mobashir Mirza - told CPJ that they were threatened and eventually fired. They fled the country in late 2011. After these developments, the trial was shifted from Karachi to an anti-terrorism court in Shikarpur. - Committee to Protect Journalists

Explore Further

Veteran journalist Javed Iqbal Jaidi bids farewell after long health battle

 November 08, 2025: Veteran journalist Javed Iqbal Jaidi passes away in Shorkot after a long illness. Friends remember his humor, humility, and lifelong dedication to journalism.

JournalismPakistan.com launches dedicated Middle East section to deepen regional media coverage

 November 07, 2025: JournalismPakistan.com launches a Middle East section to expand regional reporting. New coverage will follow JP’s editorial SOPs—verification, balanced sourcing, and two-stage review—placed between Asia and World on the Home Page.

Russia slams Pakistan’s Frontier Post for ‘Western bias’; newspaper hits back

 November 07, 2025: Russia accuses Pakistan’s Frontier Post of anti-Russia bias; the paper defends press freedom and independence. A diplomatic clash over media narratives.

Javed Chaudhry signs off from Express News after 18 years on ‘Kal Tak’

 November 07, 2025: Veteran journalist Javed Chaudhry bids farewell to Express News after 18 years on Kal Tak, marking the end of an era in Pakistani television journalism.

Why only Nukta, Mr. Minister? Media workers question government's selective support

 November 06, 2025: Information Minister Attaullah Tarar’s job offer to Nukta staff draws criticism as hundreds of journalists across Pakistan face layoffs, salary delays, and job insecurity.

Information Minister Tarar announces jobs for all 37 laid-off Nukta employees

 November 06, 2025: Information Minister Attaullah Tarar announces jobs for 37 laid-off Nukta employees, saying they will be placed at digital platforms within 48 hours amid growing media uncertainty.

Faisal Chaudhry’s viral one-liner on G for Gharidah steals the show

 November 05, 2025: PTI’s Faisal Chaudhry’s witty reply to Gharidah Farooqi on GTV’s “G for Gharidah” goes viral as a clip from their debate over the 27th Amendment sparks reactions online.

A digital dream falters: Nukta cuts 37 jobs in Pakistan after only one year

 November 05, 2025: Digital platform Nukta lays off 37 employees in Pakistan, including journalists and producers, highlighting the financial struggles facing new media ventures in a shrinking job market.