KARACHI: Journalist Nasrullah Gadani, a reporter at the Sindhi language newspaper Awami Awaz, succumbed to his injuries on Friday after unidentified assailants on a motorbike shot him near the town of Mirpur Mathelo in Ghotki district.
Before the attack, a video of Gadani filming a convoy of a local influential travelling with police protocol went viral. Reports from Ghotki revealed that the reporter, known for his outspoken stance against local feudals and powerful individuals, had been facing threats to his life.
Gadani was initially referred to Mirpur Mathelo and Rahim Yar Khan hospitals and was then shifted to Aga Khan Hospital in an Edhi air ambulance on Wednesday.
“He was brought to Aga Khan Hospital with gunshot wounds to his abdomen. Despite efforts to save his life, he succumbed to his injuries,” the hospital spokesperson told media.
The death of Gadani lead to widespread condemnation from journalists, political activists, and members of the civil society.
The slogan ‘Bhotar my foot’ (feudal under my foot) imprinted on the slain journalist’s motorbike’s number plate became the top trend on social media.
Following Gadani’s death, the journalist community in Sindh called for protests across various districts, demanding the arrest of his killers.
According to multiple sources, the police have detained several suspects from Ghotki district. However, their identities have not been revealed yet. –Agencies