A new investigation by Free Press Unlimited (FPU), in partnership with Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) as part of the A Safer World for the Truth project, has revealed new details in the case of the murder of journalist Shan Dahar, who was killed in Pakistan in 2014. In particular, it highlights police misconduct, political inaction and years of impunity. It is time for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's promises to be followed with decisive action and for the Pakistani authorities to bring those responsible to justice.
On the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists on 2 November 2025, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that his government would take measures to ensure effective investigations and prosecutions for crimes against journalists. But this is not the first time Pakistani officials have said they would address this pervasive issue without yielding any results. In the last ten years alone, 35 journalists have been killed, according to RSF data, with no real investigations underway.
The case of journalist Shan Dahar, who was shot dead on the night of 1 January 2014, in Badeh, a city in Sindh province, while filming a video report on trafficking medicines, illustrates the widespread problem of impunity in Pakistan: more than 12 years after the murder, his killers are still at large.
The international press freedom organisations FPU, CPJ, and RSF unified under the coalition A Safer World for the Truth, conducted an independent investigation into the murder of Shan Dahar, a journalist with Abb Takk Television. Their conclusion is clear: his murder remains unsolved due to a flawed investigation and a lack of political will.
New investigation highlights shortcomings
Videos and photos in particular have made it possible to retrace Shan Dahar's movements in detail on the night of his murder. This evidence clearly demonstrates that the authorities' version of the crime is highly improbable.
The investigation, entitled “Truth Denied: How Pakistani Authorities Built An Unsolvable Case” which is available in full on the FPU website, also includes confirmation from police investigators that they arrested individuals solely to extort them. Two witnesses identified in the proceedings told the coalition that they had been forced to provide false information.
The authorities also ignored clear indications that Shan Dahar could have been targeted because of his investigation into the illegal reselling of donated medicine distributed to local hospitals. Footage of the night of the murder shows the journalist filming inside a local clinic and purchasing drugs at a pharmacy next-door moments before he was shot in the back. He had previously accused the head of the clinic, Dr. Kandhro, of involvement in medicines trafficking. Dr. Kandhro was one of two doctors who were supposed to treat the journalist after he was shot. Both were subsequently suspended for medical negligence, leading to his death. Neither of the doctors has been investigated by the police.
The coalition contacted Dr. Kandhro and the Pakistani police for comment, but neither responded to its request. Given Prime Minister Sharif's promises, the coalition urges the Pakistani authorities to intensify their collaboration with civil society organisations working for press freedom in order to compensate for the lack of resources and strengthen the political will to solve this case.
"Nearly 12 years after the murder of journalist Shan Dahar, his killers remain at large, clearly illustrating the widespread impunity for crimes against news professionals in Pakistan. The joint investigation into Shan Dahar's death highlights these profound failures of justice. We call on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to keep his promises: reopen an independent investigation in order to arrest and prosecute those who ordered and carried out this murder without delay, properly enforce the 2021 Journalists' Safety Act, and cooperate with civil society so that justice can finally be done for Shan Dahar and this ongoing impunity can come to an end.
“At first glance, the case of Shan Dahar might seem old news. But it represents real people who have lost a colleague, a friend, a family member. We must ensure that they get the justice they deserve, and that crimes against journalists never happen again. We therefore call on Pakistani authorities to intensify their collaboration and information sharing with press freedom organisations. Only with transparent, objective monitoring can we break the ongoing cycle of impunity for crimes against journalists.
“Killing a journalist has become one of the safest crimes in Pakistan. The murder of Shan Dahar is emblematic of the pervasive impunity in journalist killings in Pakistan and the lack of political will to end this vicious crime. After more than 12 years, there has been no justice for Shan Dahar’s family, while Pakistan remains one of the world’s most dangerous places for journalists. With the new evidence we have uncovered through this joint investigation, the Pakistani authorities must now arrest the suspects, and bring them to justice. The onus is now on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to prove he meant business when he vowed to protect journalists - or that his words are just empty talk.
A Safer World for the Truth is a joint initiative betweenFree Press Unlimited (FPU), Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) that conducts investigations and analyses to seek justice for journalists who have been killed.
Pakistan ranks 158th out of 180 countries and territories in the RSF 2025 World Press Freedom Index.
