The Sindh government has presented a cheque of Rs10 million to the bereaved family of journalist Nasrullah Gadani who was shot dead in his native town Mirpur Mathelo near Ghotki.
Nasrullah breathed his last at a private hospital in Karachi last month.
Sindh Senior Minister for Information and Transport Sharjeel Memon presented the compensation cheque to the slain journalist’s brother Muhammad Bux Gadani on Monday.
Speaking on the occasion, Memon informed media persons that the provincial authorities were heartbroken due to the loss of life of a daring journalist in the province.
He said the murder of Gadani was a tragic incident and it had been perpetrated by the elements that were bent upon suppressing the free press in the country.
“Everyone knows very well about this vicious line of thinking but the governments are under an obligation to combat this mentality,” he said.
The information minister explained that owing to efforts of the Ghotki police and Sukkur DIG, three suspects involved in the journalist’s killing had been arrested. He assured the bereaved family members that a transparent probe would be conducted into the incident and all involved in the killing of the journalist would be brought to justice.
He told journalists that the Sindh government had the fullest realisation of the tragic loss endured by the bereaved family of the journalist. He conceded that no financial assistance would compensate for the loss of a precious human life.
He said the compensation cheque of Rs10 million was being paid to the bereaved family on direction of the Sindh chief minister. Memon said the financial compensation was being paid to reaffirm the fullest commitment of the Sindh government and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) to the cause of free press.
He maintained that the PPP had always shown exemplary patience and tolerance in the face of criticism from the media more than any other political party. The PPP also took practical steps to ensure the welfare of journalists and fulfil the constitutional right of the freedom of speech, he added.
The information minister recalled that the Sindh CM had ensured that the injured journalist from Mirpur Mathelo was given best treatment facilities at an elite private hospital in Karachi without waste of precious time to save his life, but unfortunately, he could not survive.