The people of Sindh bid an emotional farewell to Nasrullah Gadhani, a brave journalist who lost his life while fighting for the rights of the oppressed and underprivileged masses of Sindh.
Gadhani was critically injured in a gun attack earlier in the week in Mirpur Mathelo and passed away during treatment at Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi on Friday.
On Saturday, as his funeral reached his native town, thousands of people gathered on the main road connecting Mirpur Mathelo and Karachi to pay their respects and shower rose petals on the ambulance carrying his body.
Despite the scorching heat, people from different cities of Sindh and all walks of life converged on Saturday in his native village, Qabool Khan Gadani, to attend his funeral.
They praised the journalist for fearlessly highlighting issues of Sindh through his writings in the Sindhi language [Daily Awami Awaz] and on social media.
His family, including his children, mother and brothers, were overcome with grief.
Social media users paid homage to his bravery by writing poetry and sharing his videos with the hashtag #ڀوتارmyfoot (feudal lord my foot). This slogan used to be plastered on Gadhani's motorbike and served as a motto of his journalism in which he always condemned feudalism.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, and Sharjeel Inam Memon expressed their grief over Gadhani's demise and vowed to help the surviving members of his family seek justice.
Journalists covering the Sindh Assembly session staged a walkout as a protest, demanding the arrest of suspects involved in his brutal murder. Black flags were hoisted on the buildings of press clubs across Sindh to mourn his death. Members of civil society and fellow journalists praised Gadhani's efforts, who fearlessly exposed the flaws of the local police department and covered the core issue of dacoits in the riverine area of Sindh.
Advocate Touqeer Kalwar from Ghotki revealed that Gadani had been attacked in the past by his rivals but escaped, fortunately. He was also sent behind bars several times for his bold reporting.
Meanwhile, Sukkur DIG Pir Muhammad Shah announced that three suspects have been booked in connection with the murder, and the investigation team is evaluating Gadhani's social media accounts, call records, and political and professional affiliations for possible suspects or anything which may lead them to his killers.