SUKKUR: The Ghotki police on late Saturday evening claimed to have made a breakthrough in the murder case of Nasrullah Gadani, a journalist associated with a Sindhi-language newspaper, who was shot at and seriously wounded by unknown assailants on May 21 and had succumbed to his wounds on May 24.

“We have arrested one of the three main suspects and recovered the crime weapon as well as a motorcycle and three mobile phones used in the crime,” said Ghotki SSP Sumair Noor Channa at a press conference held in his office in Mirpur Mathelo.

He identified the arrested suspect as Asghar Loond, son of Hoat Loond, and said that the other suspects, Asghar’s brother, Barkat, and Abdullah Loond, son of Ali Ahmed, would also be arrested soon. The suspects are residents of Yaru Loond taluka of Mirpur Mathelo.

According to a press release issued by the Ghotki police, two armed men riding a motorcycle opened fire on Nasrullah Gaddani while he was on his way to Mirpur Mathelo from his native village, Qubal Khan Gadani, by his motorcycle. The incident occurred at around 11am on May 21, it said. Mr Gadani fell on the ground after sustaining bullet wounds and the assailants sped away.

Ghotki police say two other suspects will be arrested soon

The press release stated that the SHO of Mirpur Mathelo Saddaruddin proceeded to the spot upon receiving the information and transported the victim to the Mirpur Mathelo Civil Hospital, where doctors provided him emergency medical treatment.

The doctors, considering Mr Gadani’s critical condition, referred him to a major hospital in Rahim Yar Khan. The Mirpur Mathelo police accompanied the wounded victim when he was shifted to that hospital.

The SSP told the media that at a later stage, when Mr Gadani’s condition deteriorated, he was flown to a private hospital in Karachi by an air ambulance. However, he added, Mr Gadani succumbed to his wounds during treatment on May 24.

Investigation

SSP Channa recalled that the Sukkur DIG Syed Pir Mohammad Shah had formed a joint investigation team (JIT) to reach the killers. He said he himself headed the JIT with two DSPs and two other police officers being its members.

The SSP said that the JIT and other police officials kept making concerted efforts to reach out the killers and their facilitators. With the help of geo-fencing and modern technology, an investigation was carried out from every angle and by using all available means, he added.

He also recalled that the FIR of the murder was registered on the complaint of Nasrullah Gadani’s mother, Pathani Gadani, on May 28 vide crime No. 133/2024 under Sections 302, 34, 336 Hii, 120(d) and 506/2 of the Criminal Procedure Code and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act at the Mirpur Mathelo police station.

Published in Dawn, June 10th, 2024