On the call of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), journalists across Sindh staged demonstrations demanding justice for slain journalists Tufail Rind and Imtiaz Mir, whose killers remain at large. In Ranipur, a large protest was organized by the Sobhodero Union of Journalists as part of this province-wide campaign, condemning the continued attacks on media workers and the government’s failure to ensure their safety.
According to reports, journalists from Hungorja, Sobhodero, Sagyoon, and Ranipur participated in significant numbers, holding placards and chanting slogans against the rising incidents of violence targeting journalists. The protest rally was marked by intense sloganeering and speeches calling for immediate accountability.
Addressing the rally, Naveed Ahmed Khahro, General Secretary of the Khairpur Union of Journalists, along with Qurban Ali Mangi, President of the Sobhodero Union of Journalists, and Bilawal Sehto, General Secretary of the same organization, strongly condemned the brutal killings. They expressed grave concern over the growing sense of insecurity among journalists in Sindh, emphasizing that the recent murders of two journalists within just two weeks have sent shockwaves through the media community.
Speakers said that both Tufail Rind and Imtiaz Mir were shot dead in broad daylight, yet law enforcement authorities have failed to apprehend the culprits despite the passage of several days. They criticized the government for its silence and inaction, calling it an alarming indication of the state’s negligence toward protecting journalists.
The leaders stated that press freedom in Sindh is under serious threat, and those who speak the truth or expose corruption are being silenced through intimidation, violence, or murder. They noted that instead of offering protection, the authorities have turned a blind eye, creating an environment of fear and impunity.
The protest leaders demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of the killers of both journalists and called for an independent judicial inquiry to determine who is behind the wave of attacks on members of the press. They also urged the Sindh Chief Minister and the Inspector General of Police to take direct notice of the matter and ensure swift justice.
In their concluding remarks, the journalists warned that if the government continues to ignore their demands, massive protests will be held from the Chief Minister’s House in Karachi to the Parliament in Islamabad. They vowed to continue their struggle until justice is served, declaring that the journalist community will not remain silent while their colleagues are being targeted with impunity.
The rally ended with a renewed call for unity among journalists across Sindh and a demand for stronger laws to protect media workers so that no journalist has to fear for their life while fulfilling their professional duty to inform the public.
