Last night there were two separate incidents of a targeted shoot-out. One of them involved a news anchor, Mureed Abbas. Hailing from Mianwali, Mureed Abbas was an anchorperson for a private news channel – Bol News.
Initial police reports state that he was shot while he was at a cafe in the Khayaban-e-Bukhari commercial area in Defence. Mureed was at the cafe with his friend Khizar when an unknown gunman shot him multiple times in the abdomen and chest area. Some reports suggest that he was shot over a personal dispute while others suggest that the gunman was in a white vehicle at the time of the incident.
DIG South, Sharjeel Kharal, said that according to Mureed’s friends, he had a monetary dispute with someone.
Police have not released the name of that person and have withheld the identity for investigative purposes. Mureed died on the spot whereas his friend, Khizar, died in Jinnah Post-Graduate Medical Center while he was being treated for his gunshot wounds.
According to SSP South, Sheraz Nazir, Mureed had filed a complaint against a few people before the incident as well.
A few things seem to point towards the fact that this was a targeted attempt:
- His prior complaint to the police regarding a few people.
- His friend’s statement indicative of him being in a monetary dispute with someone.
- His career as a news anchor made his words and opinions have an effect on people who followed him on social media.
A few people speculate that one of his friends has killed him, the same friend he was in a monetary dispute with.
But keep in mind that this is just a rumor and this story is unfolding with time. Social media is filled with condolences and sympathies for the family of Mureed Abbas.
Some people claim to have identified the gunman.
Gunman, identified as Atif Zaman, committed suicide at his flat after shooting dead Mureed Abbas—Geo News
— हसीम • Haseem • حسیم 🏳️🌈 (@haseemuzzaman) July 9, 2019
We don’t know whether those allegations are true or not but news reports have confirmed that the shooter shot himself in his flat.
Apparently the shooter has now shot himself
— Zarrar Khuhro (@ZarrarKhuhro) July 9, 2019
People all over Twitter are demanding justice for Mureed including other anchorpersons as well.
Sad to know about the assassination of a young TV anchor @mureed22 of Bol TV in Karachi condolences with family and colleagues of Mureed Abbas Khar I demand swift action against the culprits police must come up with the actual reasons of this brutal killing as soon as possible pic.twitter.com/8aE5gGYY1B
— Hamid Mir (@HamidMirPAK) July 9, 2019
His colleague also expressed his sorrow while tweeting about Mureed’s murder.
In deep state of shock! Strongly condemn the assassination of my colleague and news anchor Mureed Abbas in Karachi. The police and law enforcement agencies must do every possible effort to arrest the perpetrators behind this attack and make the city safer for journalists. pic.twitter.com/Y6lnOku1ef
— Wajahat Kazmi (@KazmiWajahat) July 9, 2019
Journalists from all over Pakistan have expressed their sympathies and sorrows for the deceased.
Oh my God! BOL TV’s news anchor Mureed Abbas is killed in Karachi 💔 Can’t believe that he is no more.
— Ali Salman Alvi (@alisalmanalvi) July 9, 2019
During this time of distress, our hearts go out to the family and friends of the departed.
Not only is this incident making journalists concerned regarding their safety in the city but the general population is also concerned as target-killing seems to be on the rise again. As for his friends and family, may they find the courage and strength to get through this time.
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Cover image via Facebook /@mureed.abbas.9