PAKISTAN: In eastern Pakistan on Sunday, Khan’s “Long March” took the life of a journalist as he led a convoy with his supporters towards the capital.
A female journalist was crushed to death while covering a political event led by former prime minister Imran Khan, said a senior police officer.
Sadaf Naeem, 36, a television journalist for Channel 5 in Lahore, allegedly died after falling from the container truck Khan was riding in, according to Salman Zafar, assistant superintendent in Kamuke, one of the towns along the march’s path.
On the third day of the march, Khan’s convoy was moving through Punjab Province toward Islamabad to pressure the federal government into calling snap elections. The Khan convoy crew was accustomed to inviting a small number of journalists up onto the truck’s top so they could interview him.
It was expected to reach Islamabad on Friday, but the accident prompted Khan to halt his political march.
Concerning the incident, Khan tweeted, “Shocked & deeply saddened by the terrible accident that led to the death of Channel 5 reporter Sadaf Naeem during our March today. I have no words to express my sorrow. My prayers and condolences go to the family at this tragic time. We have cancelled our march for today.”
Shehbaz Sharif, the current prime minister, also expressed his condolences to Naeem’s grieving family and announced a donation of about $20,000 to her kin.
In a tweet, Sharif expressed his “deep sadness” over the death of a reporter by saying, “Deeply saddened by the death of reporter Sadaf Naeem after falling from a long march container. I cannot feel sad enough over this tragic incident. Heartfelt condolences to the family. Sadaf Naeem was a dynamic and hard-working reporter. We pray for patience for the family of the deceased.”
Maryyium Aurangzeb, the information minister, also expressed shock over Sadaf’s passing and questioned how the reporter could have been struck by Khan’s truck while carrying containers.
Naeem, the breadwinner of her family, had been a journalist for 12 years. Officials in Pakistan have stated that they will pay for her two children, who are 17 and 21, to live and attend school.
The incident happened as Khan’s convoy was passing through Gujranwala, which is 136 miles (220 kilometres) away from Islamabad. In order to garner support, he intends to host political events in the cities surrounding Islamabad.
Khan has conducted rallies all throughout Pakistan since being deposed in April by a legislative vote, inciting opposition against a government that is battling to rescue the economy from the catastrophe that Khan’s administration left it in.
As per PTI (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf), Khan was ready to talk with the coalition government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif if it set a date for a quick election. The elections will be held as scheduled in October or November of next year, said the government. Khan said he is not willing to wait.
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