Pakistan: social media activist killed after informing of threats to his life, and receiving no protection
Event- Country
- Pakistan
- Initial Date
- Nov 8, 2021
- Event Description
Muhammad Zada Agra was shot dead in Sakhakot by two unidentified gunmen on November 8, days after he spoke out against alleged corruption and drug syndicates in the region. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its Pakistan affiliate, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) strongly condemn Muhammad Zada Agra’s assassination and call on the Pakistani government to immediately arrest the perpetrators and to create proper security mechanisms to ensure safety for reporters in Pakistan. Muhammad Zada Agra was gunned down outside his home in Sakhakot, a day after Pakistan’s national assembly passed the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Bill, 2021. Agra was reportedly running a social media campaign against drug cartels and other criminals in the region before his death. He allegedly informed authorities about the threats to his life but was offered no protection.
According to a video circulating on social media, Agra recently participated in a meeting with the deputy commissioner of Malakand, where he spoke against the drug mafia and exposed their activities in his region.
After Agra’s murder, protestors gathered in Sakhakot and staged a sit-in on a major road with his coffin, chanting against local authorities. Following this unrest, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government suspended the deputy and assistant commissioners of the region.
According to the IFJ’s South Asia Press Freedom Report 2020-2021, the continuing spate of physical attacks is chief among the safety concerns for Pakistani journalists and media workers. Agra’s killing comes days after the brutal murder of outspoken Pakistani blogger, Nasim Jokhio, sparking concern for journalists and media workers’ safety despite legislative developments to ensure their protection.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Killing
- Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to life
- HRD
- Blogger/ Social Media Activist
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Suspected non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Event Location
Latitude: 34.45813240662133
Longitude: 71.90857823334649
- Event Location
- Summary for Publications
On 8 November 2021, Muhammad Zada Agra, social media activist, was shot dead by unknown assailants days after exposing alleged drug syndicate in the region, and not receiving protection despite informing of threats to his life in Sakhakot, Pakistan.