Malik Hassan Zeb, a journalist associated with the Urdu daily Aaj, was shot dead by unknown assailants in the Akbarpura area of the Nowshera district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on July 14. The tragic incident sparked outrage among the journalistic community and demands for swift justice.
According to the First Information Report (FIR) lodged by the victim’s brother, Anwar Zeb, the attack occurred while the two were traveling by car. Unidentified motorcyclists opened fire, fatally wounding Hassan Zeb, who died on the spot. Anwar Zeb escaped the attack unharmed.
District Police Officer (DPO) Azhar Khan stated that three investigative teams have been formed to probe the incident. Paramilitary forces have collected clues and various CCTV footage from the crime scene, which shows the attackers riding a motorbike and opening fire on the journalist’s car.
Malik Hassan Zeb, 40, was known for covering health and city beats. He was an active member of the Khyber Union of Journalists (KHUJ) and the Peshawar Press Club (PPC).
In response to the killing, the Khyber Union of Journalists announced a protest demonstration outside the Peshawar Press Club scheduled for July 15. Journalists across the country have condemned the murder, demanding immediate action from the authorities. KHUJ President Nasir Hussain highlighted that this is the third journalist assassination in two months, urging the government to take stringent measures to protect journalists.
KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur and Governor Faisal Karim Kundi have both condemned the murder. CM Gandapur has called for a detailed report on the incident and directed the police to expedite efforts to apprehend the culprits. Peshawar Press Club President Arshad Aziz Malik met with top police officials, who assured him of early arrests and regular updates on the investigation.
The Tribal Union of Journalists also condemned the brutal killing, with President Qazi Fazlullah and General Secretary Khadim Khan Afridi criticizing the government’s failure to protect journalists.
