One dead in firing on Geo TV DSNG van in Karachi

Published September 8, 2015
A view of the Geo News DSNG vehicle that was attacked Tuesday night. – DawnNews
A view of the Geo News DSNG vehicle that was attacked Tuesday night. – DawnNews
An inside view of the Geo News DSNG vehicle that was attacked Tuesday night. – DawnNews
An inside view of the Geo News DSNG vehicle that was attacked Tuesday night. – DawnNews

KARACHI: Three unknown gunmen riding a motorcycle opened fire at a Geo TV Digital Satellite News Gathering (DSNG) vehicle Tuesday night in the Bahadurabad area of Karachi, killing a Geo News employee and injuring another, said police.

Ferozabad Station House Officer (SHO) told Dawn that the news van was parked near the busy Naheed Store when unknown assailants fired shots and fled the scene.

There were four persons in the van; two of them had left the vehicle when motorcycle riding men emerged and fired shots at the two personnel still inside the van.

Initially, the two injured media workers – a technician and a driver – were taken to a hospital where Arshad Ali Jaffery succumbed to his injuries. Anees, the driver, is said to be in a stable condition.

The slain media worker was shot seven times, while the driver was shot twice in his shoulder, said police. Officials said the incident appeared to be a targeted attack, but it was not clear whether the target was Jaffery or Geo News.

Sindh Home Minister Sohail Anwar Siyal has taken notice of the attack and summoned a report from DIG East Muneer Shaikh, ordering immediate arrest of the suspects.

This is not the first attack of its nature, targeting media workers. Early last year, three employees of Express News channel were shot dead in North Nazimabad in an attack claimed by the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan.

Karachi Central SSP Amir Farooqi had at the time said four armed men on two motorbikes emerged at the Board Office traffic intersection where the van of the news channel was stationed. Two of the assailants got off the bikes and opened indiscriminate fire on the van. The assailants, wearing shalwar qameez, escaped after the shooting.

Take a look: Three workers of TV channel killed.

Opinion

Editorial

Ill omens
Updated 12 Feb, 2025

Ill omens

One wonders whether institutional leadership realises the long-term ramifications of the ongoing "remaking" of judiciary.
Sunken dreams
12 Feb, 2025

Sunken dreams

ANOTHER tragedy has struck Pakistani migrants seeking a better future. A boat capsizing off the Libyan coast has ...
Hate in India
12 Feb, 2025

Hate in India

HISTORY shows that rulers use hate speech to provoke hate crimes and ‘othering’ among communities. Indian Prime...
IMF scrutiny
Updated 11 Feb, 2025

IMF scrutiny

Strengthening foundations of the economic superstructure will help make the economy competitive and boost growth.
Shadow voices
11 Feb, 2025

Shadow voices

OVER the weekend, another ‘open letter’ addressed to the army chief and attributed to former prime minister ...
Paradise at a premium
11 Feb, 2025

Paradise at a premium

PAKISTAN’S recent triumph at the New York Travel and Adventure Show 2025, winning the Best Partner Pavilion Award,...