Journalist Tufail Ahmed Rind shot dead in Mirpur Mathelo ambush

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published last month |  JP Staff Report

ISLAMABAD — Journalist Tufail Ahmed Rind was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Mirpur Mathelo on Wednesday morning while taking his children to school, local media reported. 

According to police, the attackers ambushed Rind’s vehicle and opened fire, killing him on the spot. His children, who were with him at the time, escaped unhurt. The body was shifted to Mirpur Mathelo Hospital for a post-mortem examination.

Soon after the killing, journalists from across Ghotki district gathered at the scene, strongly condemning the attack and demanding immediate justice. They urged the Sindh government to arrest those responsible and ensure safety measures for media workers operating in high-risk areas.

Rind was affiliated with Mehran Newspaper and Royal News and also served as an office-bearer of the Mirpur Mathelo Press Club. Reports indicate that he had previously survived an assassination attempt and had requested protection from the local administration, but no action was taken.

The incident underscores the growing dangers faced by journalists in Sindh, where violence against media professionals continues unchecked. Just last month, Metro 1 News anchorperson Imtiaz Mir succumbed to gunshot injuries sustained in Karachi’s Malir area. Two other journalists, Nasrullah Gaddani and Mohammed Bachal Ghuniyo, were also murdered in Ghotki last year. None of these cases has been resolved.

Ghotki, located near the Katcha region of Sindh, remains notorious for lawlessness, with dacoit gangs involved in kidnappings, killings, and organized crime. The ongoing violence has made the district one of the most dangerous areas for both journalists and civilians.

The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has condemned Rind’s murder, calling it another grim reminder of the worsening press freedom situation in the country.

PFUJ President Afzal Butt and Secretary-General Arshad Ansari urged the government to ensure the safety of journalists and their families, conduct an impartial investigation, and end the culture of impunity surrounding such crimes.

The PFUJ also announced countrywide protests against the killings of Tufail Ahmed Rind and Imtiaz Mir, noting that this was the second journalist murder in Sindh within a week. The union expressed solidarity with Rind’s family and colleagues, vowing to continue the fight for justice and press freedom in Pakistan.

Photo courtesy: Dawn.com