Pakistani Reporter Malik Hassan Zaib Gunned Down in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Amid Surge in Journalist Killings

Malik Hassan Zaib, a journalist for the Urdu‑language Daily Aaj and a member of the Peshawar Press Club and Khyber Union of Journalists, was fatally shot by two masked motorbike assailants in Akbarpura Bazaar, Nowshera district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). The attackers fired through the vehicle’s window, instantly killing the 40‑year‑old journalist, while his brother—who accompanied him—escaped unharmed.

Zaib became the seventh journalist killed in Pakistan in just over six months of 2024, illustrating a disturbing escalation in violence against media workers. KP province alone lost three journalists this year, following the earlier murders of Khalil Jibran in June and Kamran Dawar in May.

Local authorities swiftly filed a First Information Report (FIR) under the homicide provision (Section 302). Investigators secured CCTV footage, recovered bullet casings, and created multiple inquiry teams led by the district police to explore all angles, including potential personal disputes.

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) strongly condemned the killing, urging a thorough and transparent probe and demanding protective measures for journalists. UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay echoed these calls, urging Pakistani authorities to ensure justice and end the cycle of impunity surrounding crimes against the press.

Expressing deep concern, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) highlighted the alarming pace of journalist deaths—seven in 2024—and pressed the government to halt this violent trend and hold perpetrators accountable. The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) and the U.S. State Department also demanded enforcement of stronger safety measures and immediate justice for Zaib.

Zaib’s assassination underscores a broader crisis: Pakistan risks becoming a graveyard for journalists, with over 100 media workers killed since 2000, and virtually no convictions. Many of the attacks remain unsolved, perpetuating a culture of impunity.

Beyond individual cases, this systemic failure erodes press freedom, fosters fear, and undermines democratic discourse. Zaib’s death—following a lineage of targeted killings—signals a dire need for decisive institutional reforms: protecting journalists, swiftly prosecuting offenders, and ensuring the public’s right to information without fear.

The world watches as Pakistani authorities confront this crisis: unless effective action is taken, every journalist’s life in the country remains perilously exposed.