LARKANA: Senior journalist Zakir Ali, the bureau chief of television news channel Abtak, was shot dead late on Tuesday night in Badah town.

Mr Ali, also known as Shan Dahar, was attacked near the Rural Health Centre in Badah while he was coming to Larkana. He was seriously injured and taken to Chandka Medical College Hospital, but died there.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah condemned the murder and asked the Sindh police chief to submit a report on the incident within three days. Journalists and Roshan Bhutto, the brother-in-law of the deceased, alleged that despite precarious condition of Zakir Ali senior doctors did not turn up to attend to him at the hospital.

Larkana Commissioner Dr Saeed Ahmed Mangnejo and ASP City Sajid Khokhar arrived at the hospital where journalists were holding a protest. They condemned what they termed criminal negligence of doctors and called for probe into the incident.

Police detained Zulfikar Khokhar, the owner of a medical store, for interrogation while policemen carried out raids for arresting some people of the Brohi clan in the light of information provided by relatives and friends of the deceased.

PPP leader Nisar Khuhro condemned the murder and assured journalists of a thorough investigation into the incident.

He also announced that the government would provide free education to the two daughters of the slain journalist — Aliza Shan, 9, and Raniya Shan, 7.

Talking to Dawn, ASP Khokhar said the murderer would soon be arrested as the journalist had disclosed the name of his enemy to his close friends before his death. He said the suspected killer, in the words of the late journalist, belonged to Zahri Brohi clan.