Death of Sadaf Naeem
Sadaf Naeem (1982 - 30 October 2022) was a Pakistani journalist. She worked as a news reporter with Channel 5 from 2009 until her death in 2022. She had also worked as a model and TV host in different TV channels. Sadaf died on 30 October 2022 at the age of 40 in an accident after falling from a container during the Azadi March of the Pakistan Tehrek-e-Insaf (PTI) from GT Road, Lahore to Kamoke, Gujranwala.[1][2]
Sadaf Naeem | |
---|---|
Born | 1982 Ichhra, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan |
Died | 30 October 2022 Kamoke, Gujranwala, Punjab, Pakistan |
Cause of death | Fall from a container during the Azadi March |
Occupation(s) | Journalist, news reporter, model, TV host |
Years active | 2009–2022 |
Employer | Channel 5 (2009–2022) |
Known for | Reporting on Imran Khan's Azadi March |
Spouse | Naeem Bhatti (m. ?) |
Children | 2 |
Life and career
Sadaf was born in 1982[3] in Ichhra, Lahore, Punjab, and started her career as a model on different TV shows but later she joined Khabrain Media Group[4] and was at Channel 5 since 2009.[5] She had two brothers and one sister.[3] Sadaf was married to the press photographer Naeem Bhatti[6] and had 2 children.[3][7]
Death
She died in an accident on October 30, 2022 after falling to death.[1] She was on her live coverage duty covering Imran Khan's Azadi March.[8] It is common that reporters are invited up on the trucks.[7] While trying to cover the march in close proximity, she tried to climb a shipping container[9] aiming for an interview with Imran Khan.[10][3] Similarly as she did the day before.[11] After she fell on the ground she was run over by the truck carrying Imran Khan.[12][3] Even though an ambulance was called for and she was rushed to the nearby hospital[3] she was pronounced dead on arrival.[13] A journalist reported that a guard belonging to the protest pushed her before she fell.[14] Her husband deemed her death an accident[6] and signed a letter refraining from pressing charges to Mian Muhammad Aslam Iqbal, a Minister of the Punjab Government.[14] She was buried in Lahore on the 31 October.[15]
Investigation
The Pakistani Minister of the Interior Rana Sanaullah deemed the Punjabi administration responsible to carry out a proper investigation.[11] Following,[11] a fact finding commission to investigate death of Naeem was announced by the Punjabi Minister of Law Raja Basharat.[16]
Domestic political reactions
After becoming aware of her death, Imran Khan announced a stop to his Azadi March for the rest of the day.[3] The next day Khan, accompanied by PTI party officials, visited her family's residence in order to offer condolences to her family.[3] The Health Minister of Punjab Yasmin Rashid[17] and Shazia Marri the Pakistani Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety also paid a visit to the residence of Naeem's family to offer condolences.[18] Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif shared condolences with her family on Twitter[19] and announced Rs. 5 million in financial aid for her family.[20] Chief Minister Punjab Chaudhary Pervaiz Elahi also expressed his condolences to the family and offered Naeem's daughter and husband a job in some department of the regional public administration.[21] Elahi also delivered them a cheque over Rs. 50 millions and the Punjabi Government decided to investigate the causes of Naeem's death.[22] Other Pakistani officials assured the state would cover the costs of Naeem's children upbringing and education.[9][10]
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) however, questioned Imran Khan if dead journalists were his "revolution".[23][24] Politicians of the Pakistani Government such as Railway Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique accused the Punjabi administration that it has coerced Naeem's husband from pressing charges.[11]
International
Referring to her death, the UNESCO General Secretary Audrey Azoulay deplored the incident and raised concerns on the working conditions for journalists in general.[25]
Reactions from journalists
Journalists in Pakistan questioned if Naeem's death could have been prevented if media companies had invested more in the safety of their journalists.[9] The Pakistan Press Foundation saw her death as a caused by the non-implementation of the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act.[26] The bill mandates that media organisations must provide journalists with safety training before they can be sent to work in any location.[27] According to the journalist watchdog Freedom Network the law was passed in 2021, but has not come into force since the committee supervising the law, has not been established yet.[15]
References
- Malik, Mansoor (2022-10-31). "Reporter falls to death trying to cover march". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2022-10-31.
- Bukhari, Mubasher (2022-10-30). "Pakistani journalist crushed by Imran Khan's truck during coverage". Reuters. Retrieved 2022-10-31.
- Tarar, Mehr (8 November 2022). "Gone too soon, rest in peace, Sadaf Naeem". Gulf News. Retrieved 2022-11-29.
- "Female reporter's death: Imran Khan ends Sadhoke phase of PTI long march". ARY News. 2022-10-30. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
- "Imran visits deceased journalist Sadaf Naeem's family". The Express Tribune. 2022-10-31. Retrieved 2022-10-31.
- Mahmood, Javed. "TV journalist Sadaf's husband terms the incident a 'mishap': Punjab govt giving Rs5 million to Sadaf's family". thetruthinternational.com. Retrieved 2022-11-07.
- "Who Was Sadaf Naeem? Pakistani Journalist Crushed To Death". Retrieved 2022-11-29.
- "Journalist dies as Imran Khan's container runs over her". 24 News HD. 2022-10-30. Retrieved 2022-10-31.
- Punzier, Pallavi (31 October 2022). "A Journalist Was Crushed to Death After Falling From a Politician's Truck". Vice News. Retrieved 2022-11-08.
- "Journalist crushed to death after she fell from truck during political march led by former Pakistan prime minister". CBS. Retrieved 2022-11-08.
- "Journalist Sadaf Naeem's husband refuses to lodge a case of her death". Samaa. 2022-10-31. Retrieved 2022-11-29.
- "Pakistani journalist dies under Khan truck". Lismore City News. 2022-10-31. Retrieved 2022-11-07.
- "Woman journalist crushed to death under PTI's long march container". Dunya News. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
- "Family of Journalist Sadaf 'Wants No Probe' Into IK Long March Death". The Friday Times - Naya Daur. 2022-10-31. Retrieved 2022-11-08.
- Akhtar, Jaleel (1 November 2022). "Pakistani Journalist's Death Raises Questions About Safety". Voice of America. Retrieved 2022-11-06.
- Zafar, Tuba (1 November 2022). "Punjab govt constitutes a fact-finding committee on Sadaf Naeem Incident". Pakistan News International. Retrieved 2022-11-29.
- "Yasmin Rashid visits residence of reporter killed in accident". Daily Times. 2022-10-31. Retrieved 2022-11-29.
- "Shazia visits residence of late Sadaf Naeem". Pakistan Observer. 2022-10-31. Retrieved 2022-11-29.
- "Reporter crushed to death under container at PTI long march". The Express Tribune. 2022-10-30. Retrieved 2022-10-31.
- Gabol, Imran; Sheikh, Bilal; Farooq, Umar (2022-10-30). "Channel 5 reporter Sadaf Naeem crushed to death by Imran's container during long march coverage". dawn.com. Retrieved 2022-10-31.
- "CM gives Rs 5m cheque to daughter of late journalist Sadaf Naeem". Pakistan Today. 2022-10-31. Retrieved 2022-11-29.
- "Punjab govt to provide jobs to Sadaf Naeem's daughter, husband". ARY News. 2022-10-31. Retrieved 2022-11-06.
- "Family of Journalist Sadaf 'Wants No Probe' Into IK Long March Death". The Friday Times - Naya Daur. 2022-10-31. Retrieved 2022-11-08.
- "Is this your 'bloody revolution' ? How dare you even use this word! Not even a day has passed since the Shahadat of Sadaf Naeem because of your lust for power". Twitter. PML - N. 31 October 2022. Retrieved 2022-11-08.
- O'Hagen, Clare. "Director-General deplores death of journalist Sadaf Naeem in Pakistan | UNESCO". UNESCO. Retrieved 2022-11-29.
- "Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) horrified at the preventable death of female reporter of television channel in a tragic accident while covering a political procession -". www.pakistanpressfoundation.org. Retrieved 2022-11-06.
- Khan, Muna (2022-11-06). "Media: The Safety of Journalists". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2022-11-09.