Malik Hassan Zaib
A local journalist, Malik Hassan Zaib, was tragically shot dead by unknown assailants in the Nowshera district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on Sunday.
According to the police, Zaib was traveling in a car with his brother when the attack occurred. While his brother managed to escape unharmed, Zaib succumbed to his injuries. His body was subsequently transported to a nearby hospital.
The police reported that paramilitary forces were involved in the initial stages of the investigation, gathering crucial evidence, including various CCTV footage from the crime scene.
District Police Officer (DPO) Azhar Khan stated that a short video clearly shows the attackers, riding a motorbike, opening fire on Zaib’s car in the Akbarpura area of the city.
Following the incident, the journalist’s brother filed a first information report (FIR) with the police. In response, the authorities have formed three separate investigation teams to probe the case thoroughly.
The killing of Malik Hassan Zaib has sent shockwaves throughout the journalistic community in Pakistan. Journalists from across the country have condemned the heinous act, calling for swift justice.
The Khyber Union of Journalists (KHUJ) has been particularly vocal, with its President, Nasir Hussain, demanding immediate action from KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Inspector General of Police Akhtar Hayat Gandapur to apprehend the perpetrators.
Hussain highlighted the alarming frequency of such incidents, noting that Zaib’s murder marks the third assassination of a journalist in the past two months.
The Peshawar Press Club (PPC) has also expressed profound regret over Zaib’s killing. PPC President Arshad Aziz Malik has sought updates from both the KP IG and the DPO Nowshera.
In his remarks to the media, Malik stated that the top police official of the province assured him of an expedited investigation and the early arrest of Zaib’s killers.
The Inspector General has promised to keep the PPC informed of any progress and has requested an initial report from the DPO Nowshera.
The tragic loss of Malik Hassan Zaib underscores the growing dangers faced by journalists in Pakistan. The journalistic community continues to call for enhanced protection and swift justice to ensure that such attacks do not go unpunished.
