SANGHAR: Police in Sindh have launched a comprehensive investigation into the mysterious death of senior DawnNews TV reporter Khawar Hussain Bajwa, whose body was discovered inside his car late Saturday night on Hyderabad Road in Sanghar.
According to officials, Bajwa was found seated in the driving seat with a gunshot wound to the head. A 9mm pistol was recovered from his right hand and a single spent casing from the vehicle. While the circumstances appear unusual, police stressed that no conclusion had been drawn and the matter was being examined from multiple perspectives.
Sanghar SSP Abid Baloch told reporters that Bajwa’s postmortem had been conducted at Sanghar Civil Hospital and that initial findings were awaited. “Apparently there is a single bullet wound with an exit point on the left side of the temple,” he said.
The journalist’s body has been shifted to the Red Crescent Hospital’s cold storage facility in Latifabad, as his parents are due to return from the United States on Monday morning. Following their arrival, Bajwa will be laid to rest in his ancestral hometown of Sanghar.
Police said CCTV footage obtained from a nearby restaurant shed light on the final moments before Bajwa’s death. A guard stationed there told investigators that Bajwa had parked his vehicle after 7:30 pm and briefly used the restaurant’s washroom before returning to the car. When he failed to place an order, staff grew suspicious. On inspection, two waiters confirmed that blood was visible near his temple, and a pistol was in his hand.
Investigators are also piecing together his recent movements. Bajwa’s brother-in-law told police that he had not informed the family of his sudden visit to Sanghar, even though he had asked them to organise an annual religious ritual. He did not participate in the gathering, nor did he meet friends. His sister meanwhile confirmed that he had celebrated Eidul Azha with her earlier this year after their parents relocated to the US.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has taken notice of the incident and directed the provincial police chief to assign the probe to a senior officer to ensure impartiality.
The tragic death of Khawar Hussain Bajwa has once again placed a spotlight on the vulnerabilities faced by journalists in Pakistan, particularly in Sindh. Over the past decade, media workers in the province have repeatedly been targeted through threats, harassment, and in some cases violent attacks.
According to press freedom watchdogs, Pakistan remains one of the most challenging environments for journalists, with reporters covering sensitive political, ethnic, or security-related stories often working under intense pressure. Sindh, with its history of political rivalries and criminal networks, has been especially volatile for media personnel.
Several journalist bodies have demanded stronger legal protections and impartial investigations into attacks on reporters. They note that a majority of such cases in the past remain unresolved, fostering a climate of impunity.
Colleagues describe Bajwa as a committed reporter known for his deep connections in Sindh’s political and social circles. His unexplained death, whether accidental, self-inflicted, or linked to professional pressures, has sparked deep concern in journalistic circles, highlighting the fragile state of press safety in the country.
Authorities say investigations will take into account both personal and professional aspects of his life, with a focus on whether he had received threats or was working on sensitive stories.
For now, the mystery surrounding Khawar Hussain Bajwa’s final hours remains unsolved, but his death has once again brought to the fore the risks faced by journalists across Pakistan in the line of duty.
