A journalist was killed by unidentified assailants outside the Lahore Press Club (LPC) on Monday.
Hasnain Shah was sitting in his car outside the LPC when the suspects opened fire at him and killed him on the spot.
Hasnain was a crime reporter in a private TV channel – Capital TV – and also a member of the LPC.
Rana Amir, a close friend of the victim, informed Pakistan Today that the Capital TV office is located on Davis Road and it appeared that the victim was leaving the office and heading towards Garhi Shahu in his car.
Amir, who is also a journalist, further informed that as soon as Shah left the office, the killers started following him and they fired shots at Shah’s car when it reached near the LPC.
“Shah died on the spot and ten shells of bullets were found at the scene,” he said.
“Journalists have relationships with people from all walks of life, but I don’t think Shah had any animosity towards anyone. The victim left behind a wife and two children.”
Punjab Union of Journalists President Qamarul Zaman Bhatti told Pakistan Today that it is a blind murder, which is highly reprehensible.
“Police should reach out to the accused immediately and the journalist community will also protest against the incident tomorrow [Tuesday],” Bhatti said.
On the other hand, the executive and governing body of LPC announced that the club will remain closed till the funeral of the slain journalist and a protest will be staged outside the club.
LPC President Azam Chaudhry, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalist (PFUJ) President Shehzada Zulfiqar, PFUJ Secretary General Nasir Zaidi and PFUJ Treasurer Zulfiqar Ali Mahto condemned the incident and demanded the authorities to arrest the suspects at the earliest.
CM BUZDAR TAKES NOTICE:
Soon after the incident, Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar sought a report from the inspector general of police on the incident and ordered the arrest of the accused without delay.
He ordered that the accused be brought to book and justice be provided to the family of the slain. He also extended heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved family.
However, Civil Lines Police Station Naib Muharrar Muhammad Shabbir informed Pakistan Today that nobody has filed an application so far for registration of FIR while the body has been sent to a place for postmortem.
