JournalismPakistan.com | Published April 11, 2025 at 12:47 pm | JP Staff Report
Join our WhatsApp channelISLAMABAD—In a shocking act of violence against the media, unidentified assailants brutally murdered Sindhi journalist AD Shar and abandoned his body along the Handiyari Link Road in Khairpur, Sindh, according to a report by 24NewsHD TV Channel on Thursday.
Residents discovered the body early in the morning and promptly alerted the police. Law enforcement officials from the Thari Mirwah Police Station responded to the scene and shifted the body to Thari Mirwah Hospital for a medico-legal examination.
Speaking to reporters, the Station House Officer (SHO) of Thari Mirwah Police Station confirmed that the journalist had been killed using a sharp-edged weapon. "A post-mortem is underway, and we expect more information to emerge once the autopsy report is finalized," he said. He added that an investigation is ongoing, and authorities are working to identify the perpetrators.
The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has expressed deep sorrow over the brutal killing and announced a three-day mourning period to honor the slain journalist. The PFUJ has long raised concerns about the deteriorating safety of journalists in the country, particularly in rural regions like Sindh, where media workers often operate without protection or institutional support.
Senior journalist and union leader Naveed Khuhro strongly condemned the murder, calling it a grave attack on press freedom. "AD Shar was performing his journalistic duties, and his murder is not just a personal loss but an assault on the entire journalistic community. We demand that the government immediately arrest the killers and ensure justice is served," Khuhro stated.
The incident once again highlights the alarming dangers faced by journalists in Pakistan, which ranks among the most dangerous countries for media workers.
اسلام آباد: صحافت پر ایک اور ہولناک حملہ سامنے آیا ہے جہاں نامعلوم افراد نے سندھی صحافی اے ڈی شر کو بے دردی سے قتل کر کے ان کی لاش ضلع خیرپور کے ہنڈیاری لنک روڈ پر پھینک دی۔ یہ اطلاع 24 نیوز ایچ ڈی ٹی وی چینل نے جمعرات کو دی۔
مقامی لوگوں نے صبح کے وقت لاش دیکھی اور فوری طور پر پولیس کو اطلاع دی۔ تھری میرواہ تھانے کی پولیس جائے وقوعہ پر پہنچی اور لاش کو پوسٹ مارٹم کے لیے تھری میرواہ اسپتال منتقل کیا۔
تھری میرواہ پولیس اسٹیشن کے اسٹیشن ہاؤس آفیسر (ایس ایچ او) نے میڈیا سے بات کرتے ہوئے تصدیق کی کہ صحافی کو تیز دھار ہتھیار سے قتل کیا گیا۔ "پوسٹ مارٹم جاری ہے، اور مزید حقائق رپورٹ مکمل ہونے کے بعد سامنے آئیں گے،" انہوں نے کہا۔ ایس ایچ او کا کہنا تھا کہ تحقیقات جاری ہیں اور ملزمان کی شناخت کے لیے کوششیں ہو رہی ہیں۔
پاکستان فیڈرل یونین آف جرنلسٹس (پی ایف یو جے) نے اس وحشیانہ قتل پر گہرے دکھ اور افسوس کا اظہار کرتے ہوئے تین روزہ سوگ کا اعلان کیا ہے۔ پی ایف یو جے طویل عرصے سے صحافیوں کی سلامتی کے بارے میں تشویش کا اظہار کرتی آئی ہے، خاص طور پر دیہی علاقوں میں جہاں صحافی اکثر بغیر کسی تحفظ کے اپنے فرائض انجام دیتے ہیں۔
سینئر صحافی اور یونین رہنما نوید کھُہرو نے اس قتل کی سخت الفاظ میں مذمت کرتے ہوئے کہا کہ یہ آزادی صحافت پر سنگین حملہ ہے۔ "اے ڈی شر اپنی صحافتی ذمہ داریاں نبھا رہے تھے، ان کا قتل صرف ذاتی نقصان نہیں بلکہ پوری صحافتی برادری پر حملہ ہے۔ ہم حکومت سے مطالبہ کرتے ہیں کہ قاتلوں کو فوری گرفتار کر کے انصاف فراہم کیا جائے،" انہوں نے کہا۔
یہ واقعہ ایک بار پھر پاکستان میں صحافیوں کو درپیش خطرات اور چیلنجز کی نشاندہی کرتا ہے، جو دنیا کے خطرناک ترین ممالک میں شمار ہوتا ہے صحافت کے لیے۔
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.
October 24, 2022: Renowned journalist and anchorperson Arshad Sharif was tragically shot and killed in Kenya. His wife, Javeria Siddique, confirmed the devastating news on social media, urging the public to refrain from speculation. Sharif, who was well-known for his work with ARY News and received the Pride of Performance Award in 2019, had joined BOL News.
February 18, 2022: Athar Mateen, a senior producer at Samaa TV, was tragically shot dead during a robbery in North Nazimabad, Karachi. Sindh's authorities and Prime Minister Imran Khan condemned the incident, calling for a thorough investigation to bring the culprits to justice.
May 15, 2025 Dawn faces backlash for publishing ex-CJ Qazi Faez Isa's op-ed, accused of undermining democracy and aiding election rigging. Politicians and journalists condemn the move.
May 15, 2025 Discover the legacy of Samiullah Khan, Pakistan’s legendary "Flying Horse," whose breathtaking speed and artistry redefined hockey. From Olympic glory to World Cup triumphs, his story is one of myth, movement, and magic.
May 12, 2025 PFUJ pays tribute to journalists flogged under General Zia’s martial law in 1978, vowing to resist modern censorship and uphold press freedom in Pakistan.
May 09, 2025 In a bizarre media meltdown, Indian TV channels declared war on Pakistan, claimed imaginary victories and pushed fake narratives—leaving even Indian viewers stunned and apologetic.
May 05, 2025 India has banned prominent Pakistani journalist Rana Mubashir’s YouTube channel, expanding its crackdown on 16 other Pakistani media outlets. The move follows accusations of "false narratives" against India.