Case Update Status

Case is in Model court Nawsheroferoz.

Summary of Case

On 16 Feb 2020, Aziz Memon,55, reporter of leading Sindhi language newspaper and television channel, was found dead in the town of Mehrabpur in Pakistan’s southern province of Sindh. Memon’s body, who worked for daily “Kawish” and KTN News channel for 25 years, was found floating in Godhu minor.

Station House Officer (SHO) Azeem Rajpar, the local police officer said that a TV cable wire was seen tied around his neck, but he wasn’t strangulated. The SHO added that cameraman named Awais Qureshi, who was with Memon before his murder, and two other men are being interrogated. “We are waiting for postmortem report for further investigation,” he added.

The journalists had released a video message on social media claiming that he was receiving death threats for his story that Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) had paid crowds who had gathered to greet PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s during his “train march” in March 2019. The deceased had named some officials of the Sindh government who threatened him of dire consequences because of his reporting.

KTN Director News Mustafa Jarwar said that Memon worked with KTN had published/broadcast several investigative reports and last year he received threats for his reporting. He demanded immediate registration of criminal complaint or First Information Report (FIR) so that proper investigations are started to arrest the culprits. Memon’s brother Hafeez Memon confirmed that his brother had received death threats for his reporting.

The Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors (AEMEND) strongly condemned the murder of Memon. AEMEND President Azhar Abbas and Secretary General Ammad Yousuf said the media community is shocked at this blatant act of violence and expresses profound concern over the continued attacks and killing of journalists.

The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) told PPF that PFUJ strongly condemned the murder and demanded a judicial inquiry by a judge of Sindh High Court and called for immediate arrest of the killers.

Human Rights Minister Dr Shireen Mazari stated that Memon had informed the authorities about threats to his life, but timely action was not taken to protect him. She added that a committee should be formed to probe the murder so that those involved in the killing could be brought to justice.

Sindh Information and Local Government Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah said that the Sindh chief minister has directed police officials concerned to register FIR at the earliest.

Aziz Ur Rehamn Memon who is also a Complainant in FIR and a brother of Aziz Memon told PPF that “On morning 25 Feb 2019 Aziz Memon went out for reporting with his private Camera man Awais Qureshi at 12 noon and at evening 4 I received a call from my friend who stated that police told him that they found a body from Godhu minor they are saying He is Aziz Memon please come and check so we went there and that was Aziz Memon. I believed that this murder took place due to that video which was Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) had paid crowds who had gathered to greet PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s during his “train march” in March 2019.He was also receiving threats from Sindh Government. We request the government and government officials to kindly proceed this case properly as the motive behind the killing is clear.

KTN Director News Mustufa Jarwar told PPF that the case is still under investigation. DNA has been taken from the nails of Aziz Memon’s body and the report of DNA report shows that there is another DNA found in the nails of Aziz, Police took approximately 60 people DNA test to match that other DNA including the family members of Aziz Memon. He also reported me that he was having threats from the locals of Sindh Govt in Naushera Feroz due to that video which was Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) had paid crowds who had gathered to greet PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s during his “train march” in March 2019. Police should investigate this cause as well because this may be a reason behind of his death.

The joint investigation team (JIT) formed in February this year to look into the mysterious death of senior journalist Abdul Aziz Memon.

JIT chief Additional Inspector General (AIG) Ghulam Nabi Memon, along with other members — Shaheed Benazirabad DIG Mazhar Nawaz Shaikh and SSP Tanveer Hussain Tunio — and deceased journalist’s brother Abdul Hafeez Memon told a press conference that it was a blind case but the team succeeded in collecting “strong technical and circumstantial evidence” with the help of modern technology and advance investigation methods.

Three suspects — Nazeer Sehto, Ameer Sehto and Farhan Sehto — who were earlier arrested in the case were produced in a court in Kandiaro town on Friday (today) and one of them, Nazeer Sehto, gave his confessional statement before the judge, according to AIG Memon.

The prime suspect, Mushtaq Sehto, and four other alleged accomplices were still at large, said the police officer, explaining that Mushtaq was believed to be the mastermind of the murder.

Head Mohrar of Mehrabpur Police Station Mr. Naeem Abbasi told PPF that four suspects were arrested named as Nazeer Sehto, Ameer Sehto and Farhan Sehto and cameraman Awais Qureshi and presented in Model Court Nawsheroferoz. The case is under trail however the police is still looking for two accused named as Mushtaq Sehto and Absad Sheto.

On Sep 21, 2021 The Sindh High Court, Sukkur Bench, on Monday rejected a bail application of an accused in a murder of a local journalist.

Reports said the counsel of accused Farhan Ali Sahito, who was arrested in a murder case of a Naoushahro Feroze's journalist Aziz Memon, had filed a bail application in the SHC Sukkur Bench.

The court, however, dismissed the bail application and ordered the Trail Court of Naushahro Feroze to decide the case within four months. It is pertinent to mention that Aziz Memon's body was recovered from a canal in Naushahro Feroze on February 16, 2020, with a wire tied around his neck.

On 24-Jan-22 hearing in Model court Nawsheroferoz Judge rejected Hafeez Memon, Brother request that Pakistan People's Party leaders MNA Syed Abrar Shah and former UC Nazim Shahid Ikram Malik are involved in this incident

Category of Incident

Murder

ICCS Status

ICCS Divisions: 0101-Intentional homicide

ICCS Group: N/A

ICCS Class: N/A

ICCS Crime: Intentional Homicide.

Reported By

Dawn, The News

Date of incident

16

Month

February

Year

2020

Name of affected person

Aziz Memon

Other affected persons

No other person affected

Name of affected organization

KTN TV

Other affected organizations

Daily Kawish

Action by

Unidentified

City

Mehrabpur

Province

Sindh

Designation

Reporter

Professional category

Journalist

Age of victim

55 Years

Marital Status

Compensation Details

Amount of compensation announced by government: No compensation Announced

Date of compensation announcement by government: No compensation Announced

Date of compensation paid by government: No compensation Announced

Amount of compensation announced by others: No compensation Announced

Date of compensation announced by others: No compensation Announced

Date compensation paid by others: No compensation Announced

FIR Details

Was FIR registered ?: Yes

Date of FIR: 19/02/2020

FIR Details: FIR # 22/20

Police station of FIR: Mehrabpur Police Station

Name of complainant: Hafeez Memon

Name of accused in FIR: Unknown

Court Details

Was case investigated ?: Under investigation

Court where case was presented: Model court Nawsheroferoz

Name of prosecuting lawyer: Nisar Ahmed Bhandhro

Date of first court hearing:

Date of last court hearing:

Status of court case: The case is still under trial

Journalist Union Status

PFUJ

The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) told PPF that PFUJ strongly condemned the murder and demanded a judicial inquiry by a judge of Sindh High Court and called for immediate arrest of the killers

APNS

All Pakistan Newspapers Association Society (APNS) Secretary General Sarmed Ali expressed profound concern over continuous attacks and killings of journalists.

CPNE

Not required to contact

PBA

N/A

Media Source Status

Media reports:

Condemn Status

Colleague of victim

N/A

Employer organization

KTN Director News Mustafa Jarwar said that Memon worked with KTN had published/broadcast several investigative reports and last year he received threats for his reporting. He demanded immediate registration of criminal complaint or First Information Report (FIR) so that proper investigations are started to arrest the culprits. Memon’s brother Hafeez Memon confirmed that his brother had received death threats for his reporting.

Press Club Status

Press club 1: Press clubs condemned the incident and demanded immediate arrest of culprits.

Press club 2:

Press club 3: