On May 21, Nasrullah Gadani, a reporter for local Sindhi language newspaper Awami Awaz, was attacked by armed assailants in the Kori Goth area of Ghotki district in Sindhi province. He suffered critical gunshot wounds to his abdomen and died in a Karachi hospital on May 24.
Yaqub Gadani, brother of the slain journalist, and Salah Gadani, his cousin, testified as eyewitnesses before the Second Civil Judge and Judicial Magistrate in Mirpur Mathelo on June 26, 2024, according to media reports. They alleged that Khalid Lund, a local member of parliament from the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) along with his two sons Ahmed Khan Lund, and Noor Muhammad Khan Lund, masterminded the killing of Nasrullah Gadani.
The two siblings of the deceased journalist recounted that on the day of the murder, they were traveling on a separate motorbike with Gadani when the three attackers stopped them and shot him with a pistol. This account was shared by journalist Imdad Soomro, who reviewed the court testimony of the Gadanis and spoke to CPJ.
The eyewitnesses recorded their statements under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) and added that earlier on April 11, 2024, they witnessed that three accused had also threatened that Nasrullah would be killed if he did not stop reporting against them.
Naimat Khan, the former General Secretary of the Karachi Press Club, told CPJ, that as a journalist leader, he strongly believes “Gadani’s killers were associated with PPP lawmaker Khalid Lund, as his family testified in court.”
On May 27, 2024, The News International reported that Sindh police arrested at least three suspects in connection with Gadani’s killing. On June 8, Police stated that they arrested suspects including Asghar Lund, son of Hoat Lund, one of the three main suspects, and that they recovered the weapon as well as a motorcycle and three mobile phones used in the crime. Police have declared Asghar Lund’s brother Barkat and Abdullah absconders, according to The News. Gadani, who disseminated news reports through social media, was known for his investigations into local feudal lords, political personalities, influential landowners and government officers, according to the independent Dawn.
Sindh police chief Ghulam Nabi Memon told CPJ in late 2024 that Lund and his two sons remained free on pre-arrest bail while the investigation had been transferred to Tanveer Tunio, senior superintendent of the Shaheed Benazirabad district police. Memon did not respond to CPJ’s query on whether police had determined a motive for Gadani’s murder.
In a video that went viral on social media, Gadani was seen riding a motorcycle alongside a convoy of a landlord escorted by police. Speaking in the Sindhi language, he was heard saying that a landlord was being escorted by police. Some followers of the journalist believe the video may have been a motive for the attack, according to the non-profit Freedom Network, but investigating police have not given an official cause.
Gadani’s brother, Yaqub Gadani, told CPJ that members of Lund’s tribe opened fire on and beat several participants in a September 18, 2024 protest demanding justice for the journalist. Authorities then opened an investigation into Yaqub Gadani and other demonstrators, accusing them of inciting violence in a case Gadani’s family calls an attempt to intimidate them.
Sindh police chief Memon told CPJ that police opened investigations into both parties based on complaints from the two sides.
Lund did not respond to CPJ’s request for comment sent via messaging app.