Journalist succumbs to injuries at Karachi hospital

KARACHI: Journalist Nasrullah Gadani, who suffered serious gunshot wounds in an attack by unidentified assailants near Mirpur Mathelo, succumbed to his wounds at a Karachi hospital in Karachi on Friday morning.

Gadani was a reporter of the daily Awami Awaz at Mirpur Mathelo, district Ghotki, who according to senior journalist Asad Pitafi was quite vocal on local issues and always remained on target of different local groups. The late journalist was booked under MPO for 30 days in Central Prison, Hyderabad Pitafi said.

Gadani was attacked on Tuesday when he was going from his home to the Mirpur Mathelo Press Club. He sustained three bullet wounds in his chest and belly and was transferred to Sheikh Zayed Medical College Hospital in Rahim Yar Khan for surgery. Subsequently, Gadani was brought to Aga Khan Hospital on Wednesday.

The head of the Sindh Sahafi Sangat Naimat Khuhro, Ghazi Jhandir of Sindh Journalists Council, GM Jamali of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), Amir Lateef and Sahil Jogi condemned Gadani’s murder and demanded the arrest of his real killers immediately.

In a press release issued by the Media Cell Bilawal House, Chairman PPP expressed hope that the perpetrators of this heinous crime would soon be brought to justice.

He directed the Sindh Home and information ministers to enhance measures for the safety and protection of journalists.

Respectively, the Sindh Human Rights Commission also expressed grave concerns over threats to journalists and called for the implementation of “The Sindh Protection of Journalists and Other Media Practitioners Act, 2021”.

The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has slammed the brutal murder of Nasarullah Gadani.

In a statement, PFUJ President Afzal Butt, Secretary General Arshad Nasari and Finance Secretary Lala Assad Pathan said the government’s failure to protect media persons and arrest criminals has created a sense of impunity among those targeting journalists, they said. In a statement, KPC President Saeed Sarbazi, Secretary Shoaib Ahmed, Vice-President Abdul Rasheed Memon, and members of the executive council mentioned that the slain newsman was martyred to punish him for writing the truth.