In yet another incident which highlights the dangers media and minorities are facing in Pakistan, a 31-year-old Hindu journalist associated with a private news TV channel was gunned down in Sukkur city in the Pakistani province of Sindh on Thursday.
According to media reports, a group of armed men opened fire on Ajay Laalwani, a reporter of Royal News TV, when he was sitting at a barber shop.
He sustained bullet injuries in the stomach, arm, and knee and was taken to Civil Hospital, Sukkur, where he died during treatment. The killers fled the scene.
The Sindh Journalists Council has appealed to the Sindh chief minister and inspector general of the police to take action for an early arrest of Laalwani’s killers.
The police have registered an FIR and launched an investigation to find the motive of the crime.
Meanwhile, Lal Chand Malhi, a Hindu member of Pakistan’s National Assembly (MNA), condemned the killing on Twitter.
“Strongly condemn the killing of yet another journalist Ajay Kumar at Saleh Pat, Sindh. It is a matter of great concern that media persons are increasingly feeling unsafe in Sindh. Offered condolence to the heirs of the victim. Police should (go) beyond forming committees,” he wrote.
Two days ago, another journalist, Sahil Jogi of Samaa TV, was allegedly tortured by the police when he was covering a protest against the death of a Sindh University student, Irfan Jatoi, in what police claimed to be an encounter.
Sukkur Police registered cases against Sahil Jogi and other journalists and charged them with criminal offences, including terrorism.
