JournalismPakistan.com | Published February 18, 2022
Join our WhatsApp channelKARACHI—Athar Mateen, a senior producer associated with Samaa TV, was shot dead Friday morning in North Nazimabad, Karachi.
According to Samaa TV's Chief Crime Reporter Ahmar Rehman Khan, Mateen was killed near the Five Star Chowrangi during a robbery.
The police have sealed the crime scene and are collecting evidence. Further investigations are underway.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah took notice and instructed Karachi's additional IG to prepare an investigation report immediately.
Sindh Governor Imran Ismail said that the police should protect citizens' life, property, and honor. He urged the Sindh government to take practical steps to eradicate lawlessness.
Later in the day, Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed deep sorrow over journalist Athar Mateen's "senseless killing" and strongly condemned the incident. He has directed every possible effort to bring the accused to justice.
Immediately after, Federal Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed sought a report from the chief secretary and Sindh IG.
Meanwhile, the opposition has called out the government for failing to protect journalists. "This country is unsafe for media persons," said PML-N's Hamza Shahbaz.
Additional IG Karachi Ghulam Nabi Memon has formed a team headed by DIG West to investigate the murder. SSP Special Investigation and SSP Central will be part of the team.
Mateen is survived by a widow and two daughters.
May 24, 2025: Baloch journalist Latif Sajidi was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in his home in Awaran, Balochistan. His family has faced similar violence before, including enforced disappearances. Media silence raises concerns over press freedom and safety.
April 11, 2025: Sindhi journalist AD Shar was brutally murdered in Khairpur, Sindh. His body was found dumped on Handiyari Link Road. PFUJ has declared a three-day mourning period and demanded justice.
December 15, 2024: Journalist Malik Zafar Iqbal Naich was tragically shot dead in Rahim Yar Khan while distributing newspapers. The IFJ and PFUJ strongly condemn the killing, urging swift justice amid Pakistan's deteriorating safety for journalists.
November 22, 2024: Young journalist Jinan Hussain becomes Pakistan's 11th media casualty of 2024 in a devastating attack on a passenger convoy in Kurram district that claimed 41 lives near the Afghan border.
August 28, 2024: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has ordered immediate action following the murder of journalist Mohammed Bachal in Ghotki. The government is intensifying anti-dacoit operations.
July 14, 2024: In Nowshera, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, journalist Malik Hassan Zaib was shot and killed by motorcycle assailants. The Khyber Union of Journalists and Peshawar Press Club have condemned the attack, calling for swift justice. This marks the third journalist killing in the region within two months.
June 18, 2024: Khyber News Television correspondent Khalil Jibran was tragically shot dead in Landi Kotal, District Khyber. The journalist, who had previously received threats, was ambushed and killed while returning home. This incident highlights the growing dangers faced by journalists in Pakistan.
May 24, 2024: Journalist Nasrullah Gaddani, known for highlighting civic issues in Sindh, was fatally shot in Kori Goth. Despite facing repeated arrests and threats, he continued his courageous reporting. His death underscores the dangers faced by journalists in Pakistan and calls for stronger protection and justice.
June 11, 2025 Pakistan celebrated a narrow win over Bangladesh, but beneath the jubilation lies a deeper crisis—from sidelined veterans to a collapsing domestic structure—signaling an urgent need for cricket reform.
June 11, 2025 Journalists walked out of the post-budget press conference in Islamabad to protest the absence of a technical briefing and the government's dismissive behavior, calling it unacceptable and intolerable.
May 31, 2025 Dr. Nauman Niaz has issued a defamation notice to Shoaib Akhtar over derogatory remarks made during a recent broadcast, reigniting a longstanding media feud between the two prominent figures in Pakistan.
May 30, 2025 The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has demanded the full repeal of PECA, citing its vague language, coercive powers, and threats to free speech and digital rights in Pakistan.
May 30, 2025 The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has condemned the murder of journalist Syed Mohammed Shah in Jacobabad, calling for urgent justice and improved safety for media professionals in Sindh.