KARACHI: G. M. Jamali, President Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and Secretary General Rana Muhammad Azeem have strongly condemned the murder of yet another journalist Sagheer Ahmed Laar who was gunned down on Thursday (14th March, 2024) in the province of Punjab.

Noting that despite passage of one week the killers have yet not been apprehended, G. M. Jamali and Rana Muhammad Azeem, on behalf of PFUJ, have demanded the Punjab Govt. and the provincial IGP to immediately arrest the killers and provide monetary compensation to the slain journalist Sagheer Laar’s family.

Anthony Bellanger, General Secretary of the Brussels-based International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), noted that the killing of Sagheer Ahmed Laar was a tragic reminder of the risks journalists in Pakistan faced.

“Authorities must do more to ensure that journalists and Media workers can operate without fear of retribution, and challenge a culture of impunity which denies justice to countless families.

“The IFJ strongly condemns the killing, and urge Pakistani authorities to conduct an immediate, thorough, and transparent investigation into the incident,” Anthony Bellanger said.

It may be recalled that former Nawankot Press Club president and Khabrain News correspondent, Sagheer Ahmed Laar was killed by three unidentified motorcyclists who opened fire at him from outside a pharmacy where he used to work part-time.

The gravely wounded journalist was immediately taken to Khanpur’s Government Tehsil Hospital but he succumbed to his injuries.

The very next day, on 15th March Police registered FIR No. 369/24 at the Saddar Police Station Under PPC’s Sections 302 and 34 on the complaint of his brother Jaleel Ahmed.

Following which Police took the cellphone of the killed journalist Sagheer Ahmed Laar (for forensic examination/geo-fencing) and instigated a probe.

According his brother Jaleel, the slain journalist received death threats by unknown callers asking him to keep his shroud (kaffun) ready as they would kill him.

It is pertinent to mention here that the killed journalist had previously been attacked by members of unknown gangs and the murder could be due to the reports he had run to expose them.

His brother informed that Sagheer Laar had penned a number of pieces against powerful politicians and organised crime mafia highlighting the miseries inflicted by them on oppressed communities.

Newspakistan.tv