Case Update Status

ATC court. rejected bail on 7-1-22.

Summary of Case

"On 8 Nov, 2021, Muhammad Zada Agra, Sub-editor of Sada-e-Malakand and Social Activist were shot dead by two unidentified gunmen in front of his house Sakhakot, Malakand. The attackers managed to escape after committing the crime.

Slain Muhammad Zada Agra kept raising voice against drug mafia, corruption and lawlessness of local administration in Malakand. He accused the local police and the administration of patronizing drug dealers in the community meeting of the deputy commissioner.

Family and other well-wishers protested the death body by blocking the GT Road and demanded the arrest of Deputy Commissioner Malakand Altaf Shaikh.

On Nov 15, 2021 the Malakand police arrested two men for murdering Muhammad Zada. At a press conference, Malakand Deputy Commissioner Anwarul Haq said that the murder weapon and a motorcycle have been seized from the suspects. “The men confessed to the crime during preliminary investigations,” he revealed. “They work for a drug mafia. The police have arrested 30 drug dealers from the district. An operation is underway to crackdown against others as well.”

The Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mahmood Khan took action and removed Deputy Commissioner Malakand and the Assistant Commissioners from their posts. The Chief Minister also sought a report of the incident from the Inspector General of Police Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and directed immediate steps to arrest the culprits.

Talking to PPF, editor Sada-i-Malakand, Gohar Rehman strongly condemn the act against freedom of expression. Muhammad Zada was a passionate and a brave journalist who raised voice although he knew that he will face its consequences. He received threatening calls from unknown numbers several times but he never stopped writing about the illegal activities in the area especially against the drug and land mafia.

In a recent meeting, Muhammed Zada blamed the District Commissioner Malakand, Altaf Shaikh for the disturbing situation of the area. He received threats after this but he continued to write against all mafias in the newspaper and on his social media account as well. In his Facebook post on Oct 12, 2021, Muhammed Zada nominated Shaikh for any mishap with him and said Shaikh is trying to harass him.

Senior journalist and former president of Swat Press Club, Shehzad Alam told PPF that Muhammad Zada was very active on Social Media, He used to post about the illegal activities of Malakand on his Facebook account. Recently his speech against Drug smugglers in a meeting went viral, He can be seen as very passionate to solve the problems of the area in the video.

President of Swat Press Club, Muhammad Mehboob also strongly condemn the killing of the journalist and demanded a fair investigation of the case.

President Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, Shehzada Zulfiqar condemned the killing and demanded fair investigation and said that Mohammed Zada was a social media activist."

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

Date of incident

8

Month

November

Year

2021

Name of affected person

Muhammad Zada

Other affected persons

No other person affected

Name of affected organization

Sada-e-Malkand

Other affected organizations

Pakistan Jago Tehreek

Action by

Unidentified

City

Sakhakot

Province

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Designation

Sub Editor, Columnist

Professional category

Journalist, Social Activist

Age of victim

27

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: 08/11/2021

FIR Details: FIR No 243/2021

Police station of FIR: Sakhakot Police Station

Name of complainant: Abdul Jalal, Brother

Name of accused in FIR: Unidentified

Court Details

Was case investigated ?: Under investigation

Court where case was presented: Anti terrorism court (3) Swat

Name of prosecuting lawyer: N/A

Date of first court hearing: 08/11/2021

Date of last court hearing: 07/01/2022

Status of court case: ATC court rejected bail on 7-1-22.

Journalist Union Status

PFUJ

President Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, Shehzada Zulfiqar condemned the killing and demanded fair investigation and said that Mohammed Zada was a social media activist.

APNS

CPNE

PBA

Media Source Status

Media reports:

Condemn Status

Colleague of victim

N/A

Employer organization

"Talking to PPF, editor Sada-i-Malakand, Gohar Rehman strongly condemn the act against freedom of expression. Muhammad Zada was a passionate and a brave journalist who raised voice although he knew that he will face its consequences. He received threatening calls from unknown numbers several times but he never stopped writing about the illegal activities in the area especially against the drug and land mafia. In a recent meeting, Muhammed Zada blamed the District Commissioner Malakand, Altaf Shaikh for the disturbing situation of the area. He received threats after this but he continued to write against all mafias in the newspaper and on his social media account as well. In his Facebook post on Oct 12, 2021, Muhammed Zada nominated Shaikh for any mishap with him and said Shaikh is trying to harass him. "

Press Club Status

Press club 1: "Senior journalist and former president of Swat Press Club, Shehzad Alam told PPF that Muhammad Zada was very active on Social Media, He used to post about the illegal activities of Malakand on his Facebook account. Recently his speech against Drug smugglers in a meeting went viral, He can be seen as very passionate to solve the problems of the area in the video. President of Swat Press Club, Muhammad Mehboob also strongly condemn the killing of the journalist and demanded a fair investigation of the case. "

Press club 2:

Press club 3: