The Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) government has tried to politicise the tragic death of Channel 5 reporter Sadaf Naeem during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) long march, who was crushed to death by a container-carrying vehicle yesterday.
Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb gave a statement that PTI chief Imran Khan was responsible for reporter Sadaf Naeem’s death. Similarly, a media report claimed that a media person was an eyewitness of Sadaf Naeem’s death who was pushed from the container by Imran Khan’s security guards.
According to the details reported by Channel 5, Sadaf Naeem died after falling from the container near Kamoki. The CCTV footage showed that she was running for the coverage when her foot tripped and met with an accident. The CCTV footage has proved the fellow reporter’s statement false.
Analysts questioned if PTI members were responsible for this death, then why only PTI leaders were present at her funeral prayer. They questioned where were the PML-N leaders at the time of her funeral prayers. In other words, the killers were present at the funeral and those who expressed concerns regarding her death were not present there.
فواد چوہدری سمیت تحریک انصاف کے دیگر رہنماوں کی صحافی صدف نعیم کے جنازہ میں شرکت۔۔!!!
#SadafNaeem pic.twitter.com/nih6uVG3xn— Mughees Ali (@mugheesali81) October 30, 2022
میری بیٹی بہت محنتی تھی بیٹی عمران خان کا انٹرویو کر کے بہت خوش تھی : والد صدف pic.twitter.com/urV2jluhsv
— Naya Pakistan (@Naya__Pakistan_) October 30, 2022
They added that such incidents should not be politicised by any political party or individual.
Yesterday, a female reporter was run over by PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s container after she tried to climb the container-carrying vehicle.
تحریک انصاف کے لانگ مارچ میں کنٹینر کے تلے آکر چینل ۵ کی رپورٹر صدف نعیم شہید ہوگئیں@CMShehbaz @PakPMO @GovtofPakistan @Marriyum_A @PTIofficial @ImranKhanPTI #SadafNaeem#channelfivepakistan#khabraindigital pic.twitter.com/vPtEfRui5x
— Khabrain Digital (@daily_khabrain) October 30, 2022
Following the tragic accident, Imran Khan called off long march activities in solidarity with the deceased reporter. He expressed condolences to the deceased reporter’s family.
چیئرمین عمران خان کی خاتون صحافی کیساتھ حادثے پر اظہار تعزیت اور آج کے دن کے لیے لانگ مارچ کو فوری طور پر روک دیا گیا۔
#حقیقی_آزادی_لانگ_مارچ pic.twitter.com/6F5ovNM6XZ
— PTI (@PTIofficial) October 30, 2022
He said on Twitter, “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 & condolences go to the family at this tragic time. We have cancelled our March for today.”
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 & condolences go to the family at this tragic time. We have cancelled our March for today.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) October 30, 2022
PM Shehbaz Sharif expressed regret over the incident and extended his condolences to her family. He also announced Rs5 million in financial aid for her family.
رپورٹر صدف نعیم کی لانگ مارچ کنٹینر سے گرنے سے ہلاکت پر شدید دکھ ہے۔ اندوہناک واقعے پر جتنا افسوس کیاجائے، کم ہے۔ اہل خانہ سے دلی تعزیت کرتے ہیں۔ صدف نعیم ایک متحرک اور محنتی رپورٹر تھیں۔ مرحومہ کی مغفرت اہل خانہ کے لئے صبر جمیل کی دعا کرتے ہیں۔
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) October 30, 2022