On June 24 journalists Niaz Hussain Chandio and Rafiq Channa were shot by four motorcycle-riding assailants outside a photocopy shop on Kachehri Road, Dadu, while one of the attackers was fatally wounded by his own group’s fire and collapsed near the Dadu Press Club.
The First Information Report (FIR) lodged at Police Station A-Section, District Dadu lists personal enmity as the suspected motive. The informant, Muhammad Khan—brother of Niaz Hussain Chandio—named eight individuals in the FIR: Nadir Jamali, Amir Khan, Babar Jamali, Habibullah Jamali, Rafiq alias Ali Bakhsh Jamali, Amir Ahmed son of Hamzo Khan Jamali, Khadim son of Jam Jamali, and Mohammad Ali “Bablu” son of Rustam Khaskheli.
According to the FIR, Nadir Jamali fired the first shot, striking Chandio in the chest, followed by abdominal, arm and leg wounds inflicted by Amir Khan, Babar Jamali and Khadim. After discharging warning shots inside the office, the gunmen fled; outside, Amir Khan wounded Channa, and a stray bullet from Nadir Jamali mortally injured “Bablu” Khaskheli. Police recovered one pistol, four five-round magazines and a mobile phone from Khaskheli’s body.
A-Section police station SHO Noor Mustafa Pathan confirmed the attackers arrived on two motorcycles and opened fire at Jani Printing Press. The deceased was identified as Mohammad Ali Khaskheli of Mehar, a resident of Shaheed Colony, Sehwan, with a prior criminal record. Investigators are reviewing nearby CCTV footage to trace the three remaining suspects.
Channa sustained serious injuries and is receiving treatment in Sehwan. Chandio, who also serves as district president of a child rights advocacy group, has been transferred to Karachi for specialized care. SSP (retd) Capt. Saud Ahmed Magsi said a manhunt is under way and that security measures for media personnel are being strengthened.
Dadu Press Club president Sabir Bhand, along with senior journalists Ghous Jhatyal and Liaquat Malik, has called for the swift arrest of all involved and enhanced protection for journalists. Family members of the wounded reporters—including former club president Wali Chandio and his brothers Imtiaz and Gul Hassan Chandio—assert the attack was retaliation for Chandio’s reporting on drug abuse and trafficking and have demanded a judicial inquiry and prosecution of those responsible.
