Journalist Shot Dead in Pakistan's Sindh Province, Attackers Escape
Pakistan: Armed assailants shot and killed local journalist Tufail Rind in the Mirpur Mathelo area of Ghotki district in Pakistan's Sindh province, on Wednesday, October 7. The attack occurred while he was dropping his children to school.
The shooting occurred on Jerwar Road near Maso Wah, where motorcycle-borne assailants opened fire indiscriminately on the journalist's car. According to police, "Rind died on the spot, while his children miraculously escaped."
Eyewitnesses reported that the attackers fled the scene after attacking Tufail Rind. Police later took the body to the Mirpur Mathelo District Headquarters Hospital for medical and legal procedures.
Ghotki Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Anwar Khetran immediately arrived at the scene, inspected the scene, met with the victim's family, and issued "strict orders to the concerned officials for swift action." He assured the victim's family that all those involved in this act will be brought to justice. Police stated that an investigation is underway and evidence is being collected to determine the motive behind the attack.
According to a relative of the victim, Rind was associated with the Mehran newspaper and Royal News and was also an office bearer of the Mirpur Mathelo Press Club. He had previously survived an assassination attempt, after which he sought security from the local administration, but no effective action was taken.
SSP Khetran confirmed in a statement that Rind had reported a shooting incident at his home a few months ago and said that police had made arrests at that time. He further stated that two suspects have already been arrested in connection with Rind's murder.
The SSP said, "The deceased journalist had been involved in a dispute with members of his own community for the past four years, during which two people had previously been killed."
In Mirpur Mathelo, unidentified assailants opened fire and killed local journalist Tufail Rind. His niece also passed away from shock. The victim was on his way to drop his children off at school.#JournalismNotACrime pic.twitter.com/oBXmyd2m0j
— Sanaullah Hashmani (@Hashmani14) October 8, 2025
Hours after journalist Tufail Rind's murder, another tragedy struck when Rind's eight-year-old niece fainted upon hearing the news of the murder. He was taken to Mirpur Mathelo Hospital and later referred to Sukkur due to his critical condition, but died on the way.
Last month, journalists and rights activists expressed concern over increasing restrictions on press freedom in Pakistan, with some comparing the current situation to the media censorship experienced during General Ziaul Haq's military rule.
As reported by Dawn, journalists and rights activists highlighted these concerns during events held in Islamabad to pay tribute to Nisar Usmani and C.R. Shamsi, two senior journalists and trade union leaders who fought for press freedom and journalists' rights during the martial law regime.
During a seminar at the National Press Club, current and former office bearers of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) paid tribute to the two journalists and spoke about their struggle for a free press.
Another event was held outside the Dawn offices, where journalists, parliamentarians, and human rights activists paid tribute to Usmani and Shamsi by lighting candles. Speakers called for solidarity among journalists to collectively oppose measures imposed by the government to suppress freedom of expression.
They also resolved to oppose restrictions imposed on the media and continue the struggle against controversial laws such as the recent amendment to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). Speakers highlighted that the current state of fear and intimidation is stifling independent journalism, with many journalists facing harassment, kidnapping, and assault for doing their work. (With IANS input)
