ISLAMABAD (PEN) : A local journalist, Bachal Ghunio, was tragically gunned down in Ghotki district, Sindh. The community has pointed fingers at dacoits for this heinous act.
According to the police, Ghunio was attacked while he was at his fields. His body has been transported to Ubauro hospital for further investigation. In response to the violence, Ghunio’s family staged a protest outside the senior superintendent of police’s office in Mirpur Mathelo, demanding swift action and the arrest of the perpetrators.
This incident highlights a troubling trend, as Ghunio’s death marks the ninth journalist killed in Pakistan in 2024. The recent spate of violence includes the murder of reporter Malik Hassan Zaib in Nowshera last month, and the deaths of Muhammad Siddique Mengal and Ashfaq Ahmed Sial in May. On the same day, journalist Nasrullah Gadani was fatally shot near Mirpur Mathelo, and Khalil Jibran was killed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in June.
Ghunio’s young son revealed that despite resolving past conflicts within the community, his father was still targeted. He shared that there had been previous attacks on Ghunio, adding to the sorrow and sense of injustice felt by the family.
In light of this tragic event, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has called for the immediate arrest of those responsible and has ordered a crackdown on dacoits in the region. Sindh Assembly Opposition Leader Ali Khurshidi condemned the killing as an assault on press freedom and demanded accountability.
The International Press Institute (IPI) also voiced concern over the increasing violence against journalists in Pakistan and urged authorities to take measures to ensure their safety.
