Sindh Human Rights Defenders Network (SHRDN) feels seriously concern for Gadani’s life.

Sindh Human Rights Defenders Network (SHRDN) condemns deadly attack on Journalist Nasrullah Gadani who has sustained serious injuries in gun attack in Taluka Mirpur Mathelo, District Ghotki. Incident took place when Nasrullah Gadani was going from his home to Mirpur Mathelo. SHRDN believes that he is attacked because of his human rights work by unidentified people. SHRDN is continuously following his security situation due to risks to his life for his reporting on different social issues. In September 2022, police registered a false case against him when he reported about forced eviction of hindu families from a flood camp in Mirpur Mathelo, District Ghotki of Sindh province. He challenged that eviction condemn the act of district administration who termed these families as beggars and nomads. Local human rights defenders also supported Gadani for his support to flood hit families.
Later he was booked under a MPO law and illegally detained on report of district intelligence committee and home department because of his continues work on human rights. Recent attack on Nasrullah Gadani is also an attempt of those elements who does not like his reporting on social issues. Besides his newspaper, his media account was also active and vocal on local public issues. This continues activism has invited this attack as said by some human rights defenders working on the ground.
He has suffered serious bullet injuries on his chest. His both lungs are bleeding and he is in intensive care unit of Rahimyar Khan hospital on ventilator. Local journalists and activists demanded to move Gadani from Rahimyarkhan to Karachi in a large health facility through helicopter but it was not accepted.
Sindh Human Rights Defenders Network (SHRDN) shows its serious concerns over increasing threats to journalists and media persons in Pakistan particularly Sindh where few months ago Jan Mohummad Mahar was murdered in Sukkur. Cases of other journalists murdered in different part of Sindh are pending and their families are struggling for justice. Chairman of Sindh Journalists and Media Commission Justice R Rasheed Rizvi has passed away and seat has not been filled yet. Sindh Human Rights Defenders Network demand serious measures should be taken for the protection of journalists and improvement of their safety and security in Sindh province. SHRDN has also observed that the holy alliance of feudals, police and other non-state actors and extremists have joined hands against the human rights defenders and journalists.
Immediate activation of Sindh Committee on Journalists and Media Persons Protection is being demanded by the network. Appointment of member of civil society should be taken into the commission on merit. Chairperson of the Commission and its members should increase the visibility of the commission and also pay regular visits to Shaheeb Banazirabad, Mirpurkhas, Hyderabad, Larkana, Sukkur divisions so journalists and media persons know and feel protected.
Sindh Commission on the Protection of Journalists and Media Persons should immediately form a legalaid committee which should look into the cases of murdered journalists. Right of families of slain journalists to justice should be respected and fulfilled.
SINDH HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS NETWORK