On April 2, Larkana police announced the arrest of Irfan Zehri Brohi, a suspect in the murder case of journalist Zakir Ali – also known as Shan Dahar – Bureau Chief of Abb Takk Television channel in Larkana district of Sindh. Dahar was killed twelve years ago in 2014. 

According to media reports, Irfan, had been declared an absconder and proclaimed offender in the case, was arrested in a raid near Darra crossing by Badah Station House Officer (SHO) Abdul Ghafoor Chutto.

Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) cautiously welcomes the news of Irfan’s arrest. We urge authorities to ensure that this arrest does not serve as just a formality but leads to further concrete actions against those behind the murder. PPF’s cautious reaction is based on the skepticism expressed by Dahar’s sister, Fauzia Dahar, both about the arrest and its motives.

Speaking to the PPF, Fauzia shared that they had found out about Irfan’s arrest from social media and from journalists and they wanted confirmation that he was in police custody. Fauzia shared they had received a letter for a court hearing set for April 6 for Irfan’s bail. She said that even if Irfan receives bail the case should continue. Dahar’s sister also shared pressure that the family had faced to reach some compromise or agreement but had refused to do so.

In a conversation with PPF, SHO Badah Police Station, Abdul Ghafoor, said they had received intelligence information that Irfan had arrived in Badah. Acting on this tip-off, a police team comprising six personnel conducted a raid in the area and arrested him. 

The SHO further said that Irfan, who is a farmer by profession, was arrested on April 2 during the afternoon and was subsequently shifted to the police station.

Regarding the initial investigation, the SHO stated that the suspect denied confessing to the crime and claimed that he was being falsely implicated in the case. According to the SHO, the suspect’s lawyer obtained interim bail, after which he was released from the police station. He added that the suspect’s bail will now be confirmed by the sessions court.

Dahar’s murder took place 14 years ago, on January 1st. Dahar was shot by armed men and taken to a local hospital where he remained unattended until he succumbed to his injuries. 

By the time the medical superintendent got to the scene and Dahar was transferred to Chandka Hospital in Larkana, the journalist had lost a considerable amount of blood. That, coupled with a gross lack of medical attention, cost Dahar his life. Before he breathed his last, some nine to ten hours later, he alleged that the influential Zehri family was behind the attack.

Shortly before his death, Dahar had broadcast a story on drug sales. Also, at the time he was killed, he was working on a report about the unauthorized sale of pharmaceutical medicines in the area, medications allocated by a local NGO for the poor were being resold illegally.

During the nine hours that he spent at CMCH, Dahar managed to inform his friends and family by telephone that Amir Zehri and Irfan Zehri had shot him in the back. 

On January 1, Dahar’s brother-in-law Riaz Khushk registered a First Information Report (FIR) [criminal complaint] of the murder. Police investigators, however, ignored the FIR and concluded that Dahar was killed accidentally by aerial firing on New Year’s Eve. Fauzia Dahar, and other family members rejected the police investigation report and continued to maintain that Dahar was murdered for his reporting.