Journalism is often called the first draft of history, and in Sindh, district Ghotki, in the small city Mirpur Mathelo, a journalist named Nasrullah Gadani embodied this principle. On 21, 2024, he was shot, and two days later; on May 24, 2024, he succumbed to his injuries.
He challenged powerful groups whether they were feudal lords, local official authorities, the police, or any other influential person. The word ‘compromise’ was not in his dictionary. He raised his voice for the people who often went unheard.
Nasrullah was a son of farmer—he was not from a rich background. Being a farmer’s son, he had known what it was like to be exploited by feudal lords and a corrupt system. He preferred to live a difficult life rather than stop exposing local authorities’ corruption.
The police, feudal lords, and local authorities were not happy with his style of journalism. As a result, he received threats from powerful quarters. He did not heed these threats. Before being shot on May 21, two days earlier, he had been criticizing a feudal lord, Lund, whose father is a member of a ruling party in the Sindh government, as well as a police officer. It is believed that his criticism led to his death.
Surprisingly, news of him being shot garnered attention on social media, and his followers and friends reacted strongly. On the other hand, journalist unions appeared to be less active.
Even on his death day, May 24, 2024, Sindhi students, Lawyers, civil society members, and some journalists joined a protest at Karachi Press Club. The protest was organized on short notice, but people appeared in large numbers, sending a clear message that attacks on journalism in the province would not be tolerated.
Some journalists were heard saying that his way of delivering news was not journalism, but activism. In Pakistan, when Imran Khan was in power, elite media journalists practiced journalism as activism and justified it by saying that when injustice starts snatching away your fundamental rights, turning journalism into activism is the right to do. Despite this, they were supporting the opposition, which is now in power.
In the case of Nasrullah, he did not take sides with any powerful political party – he sided with poor people whose news often was neglected. He was a hope to them. It was not only Nasrullah; in the Sukkur district, last year, Jan Mohammad Mahar a very professional and senior journalist was gunned down. In 2021, in the same district, Ajay Lalwani also lost his life. Why were they murdered? The reason, they refused to surrender to powerful quarters.
The government, whether in Sindh or at the Centre, has failed to bring culprits to justice. Political parties and their manifestos praise freedom of journalism, but in reality, they all seem to strengthen those who are silencing voices of free speech. If we are not mistaken, why has the provincial Sindh government yet to apprehend the killers of Jan Mohammad Mahar? Does the government even remember Ajay Lalwani?
Actions describe what you believe in. Meanwhile, the Sindh government’s actions speak differently. Moreover, the killing of journalists has badly exposed the provincial government’s claims of provincial government regarding health facilities in the province. There are not enough medical facilities to protect citizen’s life if they are seriously injured.
At this moment, people from all walks of life are demanding a fair inquiry into the case of Nasrullah Gadani. Those whose names have been highlighted in the case, including the feudal lord and the police officer, should be included in the inquiry commission.
If the Sindh government thinks that after some days, people will be busy with a different issue, then this time, journalists and journalist unions must not let that happen and must keep demanding justice. Otherwise, we will be faced with another journalist’s dead body – such brutal action must end. Now, it is the responsibility of journalist unions to ensure this.
We want to know who killed him. The Sindh government must now show its seriousness and let people know who the real culprit is. Otherwise, we will be forced to raise doubts about the provincial government. We hope that Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) will not ruin the legacy of those who fought against former dictator Zia-ul-Haq and his era of censorship. Let us see whether the PPP chooses the legacy of fighting for Freedom of journalism or the dark era of censorship during dictators.
Nasrullah’s life may have been lost, but his slogan, emblazoned on the license plate of his motorcycle—“Sardar, feudal lord, my foot” – now echoes in the hearts and minds of every citizen in Sindh. His death has exposed the feudal lords and the corrupt system. Those who wanted to silence his voice have only amplified it. Even bullets cannot silence his voice.
(Following verification that the Sindh government did not furnish ambulance services, the editorial was subsequently revised.)
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