Dawn staffer's son shot dead in Thatta

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 27 July 2013

Rafique Jalbani, the son of a Dawn staff member, was killed in Thatta. His wife linked the incident to threats he received related to his work.

Summary

ISLAMABAD: Son of a Dawn staff member was shot dead in Thatta on Friday. The deceased was associated with Christian Aid, a non-governmental organization.

Dawn reported Saturday that Rafique Jalbani was the son of senior sub-editor Abbas Jalbani.

Quoting witnesses, the paper said that a rashly driven Suzuki Alto was seen entering a narrow lane leading to the victim’s house.

The victim’s wife Sindhu Memon was quoted as saying that she was busy cooking when she heard someone knock the door which was answered by her husband. As soon as her spouse opened the door she heard two gunshots. “I was stunned to find him lying in a pool of blood,” she said.

Sindhu Memon linked Rafique’s murder to “enemies he made” while working on the Nur Goth Project, a 100-house scheme launched by the Pakistan Medical Association for internally displaced persons.

“He resisted attempts by some officials to accommodate undeserving people in the scheme.” She said her husband had been receiving threatening phone calls for the past few weeks.

The paper said Rafique Jalbani quit the organization a few months ago.

KEY POINTS:

• Rafique Jalbani was shot dead in front of his home in Thatta.
• He worked with Christian Aid and dealt with housing projects for displaced persons.
• Witnesses reported a car was seen at the scene of the crime.
• His wife mentioned threats he received prior to the incident.
• Rafique had left his organization a few months before his murder.