Geo TV
January 13, 2011, in Karachi, Pakistan
Babar, 28, was shot shortly after his story on gang violence aired on the country's most widely watched broadcaster, Geo TV. At least two assailants intercepted the journalist's car at 9:20 p.m. in Karachi's Liaquatabad area, shooting him four times in the head and once in the neck, Geo TV Managing Director Azhar Abbas told CPJ. Witnesses said one assailant spoke to Babar briefly before opening fire, Abbas said.
In April, police announced the arrests of five people and said additional suspects, including the mastermind, were still at large. Police said their initial investigations showed that Babar was killed for his reporting, news accounts said. Home Minister Rehman Malik said operatives of Muttahida Qaumi Movement, or MQM, were responsible for the killing, according to Abbas.
The MQM is Pakistan's third-largest political party and considered its most influential secular political organization. Pakistani media reported that four witnesses to the killing had been shot and killed, as well as the brother of the police officer who was leading the investigation.
Job: Broadcast Reporter
Gender: Male
Local or Foreign: Local
Freelance: No
Type of Death: Murder
Suspected Source of Fire: Political Group
Impunity: Yes
Taken Captive: No
Tortured: No
Threatened: Yes
Related Articles:
- A killing field: The targeting of journalists in Pakistan, September 1, 2011
- Another journalist targeted in Karachi as violence surges, April 21, 2011
- Arrests made in Pakistani journalist's January murder, April 8, 2011
- Journalist gunned down in Karachi, April 4, 2011
- Updates on Wali Khan Babar and Umar Cheema in Pakistan, March 1, 2011
