• Body shifted to cold storage; family members to arrive from US today; funeral in Sanghar
• CCTV footage obtained; murder case to be registered

HYDERABAD: Police are examining the death of DawnNews TV’s Karachi reporter Khawar Hussain Bajwa from all possible angles, officials said on Sunday, as investigations continue into the mysterious circumstances surrounding the journalist’s death.

His body was shifted to the cold storage of Red Crescent Hospital in Latifabad, as police said his parents are expected to arrive from the United States early on Monday. His funeral is scheduled to be held in Sanghar, his ancestral home.

Sindh Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ghulam Nabi Memon told Dawn that an FIR under Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) would be registered.

The investigation will be led by a team of senior officers, including AIG Counterterrorism Azad Khan, DIG West Irfan Ali Baloch, and Sanghar SSP Abid Baloch. IGP Memon said the team would investigate all circumstances surrounding the mysterious death of the journalist, who was in his mid-30s, and would adjust charges if new evidence emerges.

According to police, Mr Bajwa had arrived at a restaurant on Hyderabad Road at around 8pm. A guard later noticed something unusual in the vehicle, attracting the attention of two waiters, who found the journalist bleeding. The staff reported the incident to the management that contacted the relevant authorities.

A post-mortem examination was conducted at the civil hospital in Sanghar and the police are awaiting provisional findings. SSP Abid Baloch told Dawn that the journalist had a single bullet wound from a 9mm pistol, with an exit wound on the left temple. Only one empty cartridge was found, he added. But “we are examining all possible angles and not drawing any conclusions at this stage,” he said. The officer confirmed he had spoken to the journalist’s widow over the phone.

Meanwhile, police have obtained CCTV footage from the restaurant. The guard, who arrived for his shift at 7pm, told the police he saw the journalist around 8pm. Mr Bajwa had used the restaurant toilet before returning to his vehicle. When he did not place an order, the watchman approached the car and noticed something was wrong. Two waiters then confirmed that blood was oozing from his temple and that a 9mm pistol was in his hand.

His brother-in-law told police Mr Bajwa had not informed the family of his visit though he had asked them to hold the annual 21st Safar majlis as per the family’s tradition. He neither attended the event nor notified friends in Sanghar about his visit.

According to SSP Baloch, Mr Bajwa’s sister confirmed he had celebrated Eid with her, after their parents moved to the US.

On the other hand, a three-member fact-finding committee has been formed under AIG Azad Khan’s supervision. DIG Irfan Baloch and SSP Abid Baloch would be part of the committee. “A complete report may be finalised in two days for IGP’s perusal,” a notification said.

An official said the journalist used two phones one of which is missing. An iPhone was found with factory settings restored and no SIM.

Published in Dawn, August 18th, 2025