Afghan Radio Journalist Ahmad Hanayish Attacked in Islamabad, Suffers Serious Injuries
An Islamabad-based Afghan journalist, Ahmad Hanayish, also known by his birth name Abdul Aleem Saqib, sustained severe injuries in an attack on April 3 in Islamabad. Renowned for his significant contributions to Afghan media, Hanayish was the head of private Radio Kahkashan and Radio Donya and also served as a correspondent for Radio Azadi, affiliated with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL).
The incident occurred in the federal capital’s G-6/4 sector near Embassy Road as Hanayish was making his way back from a gym session. According to the Aabpara Police, who have since filed a first information report (FIR) under Section 294 for voluntarily causing hurt during a robbery, Hanayish was confronted by three assailants on motorcycles. Despite the journalist’s compliance, the muggers shot him from close range, hitting him in the head and leg, before fleeing with his Apple mobile phone.
A relative of Hanayish who spoke to the Aghan Journalists Center (AFJC) said that the attack left Hanayish in critical condition, requiring immediate medical intervention. Quoting doctors, he said that while the head injury of Hanayish was not life-threatening, surgery was required for the wounds on his leg.
The motive behind the assault remains unclear, with authorities exploring both robbery and targeted aggression as potential leads.
Hanayish established multiple radio stations in Afghanistan, including Donya and Khorasan in Panjshir, in the north of the capital, Kabul and serves as a regional reporter for RFE/RL. Following the resurgence of the Taliban in August 2021, which led to the closure of two of his stations, Hanayish moved to Islamabad in January 2023 with his family, seeking asylum in Europe or North America.
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