On May 30, Police in Jacobabad arrested the main suspect in the murder of Syed Muhammad Shah, a local journalist affiliated with Abb Takk TV and former president of the Garhi Khairo Press Club. Shah was shot dead outside his residence in Syed Altaf Shah village near Garhi Khairo on the night of May 29.
The suspect, Abdul Hussain Umrani, was apprehended following an armed encounter with police near Ahmed Khan Brohi village. According to officials, a special team led by the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and Station House Officer (SHO) of Garhi Khairo carried out the operation. Umrani was injured during the exchange of fire and was transferred to a hospital in Larkana for treatment.
The First Information Report (FIR), registered by Shah’s son, Syed Amir Shah, named Umrani and two unidentified accomplices as the attackers.
Sources, quoted by Dawn, said the suspect confessed to the murder, claiming it was committed in the name of “honour.” Umrani alleged that Shah had illicit relations with his wife, whom Umrani had reportedly beaten to death days before the incident. Police also revealed that Umrani’s first wife had previously died by suicide under suspicious circumstances, and his second wife was also killed before Shah’s murder.
Garhi Khairo Station House Officer (SHO) Mahooque Shar told the Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) that the murder was the result of a personal feud and unrelated to Shah’s journalistic work. He added that Umrani lived next door to Shah, with only a wall separating their homes, and that the killing occurred under the cover of darkness. The SHO further stated that Umrani had a history of domestic violence, including the suspected killings of his wives.
The SHO said the investigation is ongoing and a challan will be submitted within 15 days. He confirmed that efforts are underway to locate and arrest Umrani’s accomplices.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah condemned the killing of Muhammad Shah and extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. He directed law enforcement authorities to ensure a transparent and impartial investigation. The chief minister emphasized that those responsible must be brought to justice without delay.
Syed Muhammad Shah was laid to rest in his native village, with his funeral attended by a large gathering of journalists, local political and religious leaders, civil society members, and the general public.
The Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) strongly condemned the killing. In a joint statement, CPNE President Kazim Khan and Secretary General Ghulam Nabi Chandio termed Shah’s death “failure” of the provincial and federal governments to protect journalists. They demanded the swift arrest and prosecution of all those responsible.
The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) also denounced the murder. Acting President Khalid Khokhar and Secretary General Arshad Ansari called for an immediate and transparent investigation. The PFUJ stressed the need for improved safety measures to protect media workers across Pakistan and urged the Sindh government to take urgent action to ensure journalist safety.
