Monetary dispute turns deadly: BOL anchor Mureed Abbas killed in Karachi

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 9 July 2019

Mureed Abbas, a BOL News anchor, was fatally shot in Karachi due to a financial disagreement. His alleged assailant, Atif Zaman, also attempted suicide.

Summary

KARACHI — BOL News anchor Mureed Abbas was shot dead in Karachi's Defence Housing Authority (DHA) area on Tuesday in what police said was a dispute linked to financial dealings.

According to hospital officials, Abbas sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the chest and abdomen. Dr. Seemin Jamali, Executive Director of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), said that the television anchor was brought to the hospital dead.

The killing sent shockwaves through Pakistan's media community, with journalists and media organizations expressing grief and calling for a swift investigation into the high-profile murder.

Muhammad Asif Butt, President of the Electronic Media Reporters Association (EMRA), strongly condemned the killing, describing it as a cold-blooded act. He urged law enforcement agencies to move quickly to arrest those responsible and ensure that the case was thoroughly investigated.

Abbas was married to Abb Takk News anchor Zaara Abbas, who publicly described the circumstances leading up to the shooting. In a video shared on social media by ARY News presenter Waseem Badami, she said her husband had invested Rs5 million in a tire business operated by businessman Atif Zaman.

According to Zaara Abbas, Zaman called her husband to a meeting before allegedly opening fire on him. She said the shooting stemmed from a financial dispute related to the investment.

Police said that after the shooting, Atif Zaman attempted to take his own life by shooting himself in the chest. He was rushed to a local hospital in critical condition, where he underwent treatment under police custody.