Pakistani journalist shot dead by husband in Balochistan province

Tariq Butt, Correspondent

A Pakistani woman journalist and social worker, Shaheena Shaheen Baloch, has been shot dead allegedly by her husband in Turbat, the headquarters of Kech district, Balochistan province, police said on Sunday.

The incident took place on Saturday in Turbat, a town in Balochistan province, local police official Mohammad Mohsin said. He identified the slain journalist as Shaheena Shaheen, saying she worked for state-run Pakistan Television.

According to a police statement, a man named Nawabzada Mehrab Gichki took Shaheena Baloch’s body to the Teaching Hospital, Turbat, in a car but fled soon afterwards. By that time, the woman had died from bullet wounds.

The statement said police visited a house in the PTCL Colony, Turbat, where the shooting allegedly took place. Police found blood, an empty bullet shell and a bullet at the scene. The house is said to be the residence of one Akbar Gichki.

Shaheena Shaheen worked for state-run Pakistan Television.

Police quoted some sources as saying that Shaheena was the wife of Mehrab. However, a relative of the deceased disputed this. A case has been registered and investigation is underway, according to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Najeebullah Pandrani. Mehrab is still absconding. He said the incident seemed to be a case of domestic violence.

SSP Pandrani said an FIR has been registered against Mehrab Gichki, who allegedly killed his wife Shaheena by firing at her using his 9mm pistol in a house in the PTCL Colony, Turbat.

Shaheena was editor of a Balochi language magazine, Dazgohar. She also used to host a programme on PTV Bolan. She was also involved in efforts aimed at empowering women, something that was reflected in her work with Dazgohar, which in Urdu means Saheli.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists condemned the murder of a female journalist in Turbat. The PFUJ condemned the brutal murder of journalist and anchor Shaheena Shaheen in the Turbat district of Balochistan.

In a statement, PFUJ President Shahzada Zulfiqar and Secretary General Nasir Zaidi asked the provincial and federal governments, and the IG FC to take quick action for the arrest of the persons involved in the murder. We want an immediate judicial inquiry into her murder and the arrest of her murderer, the statement added.