Muhammad Zada Agra, journalist and activist, was fatally shot in Pakistan
Two unidentified men fatally shot Pakistani blogger Muhammad Zada Agra on November 8 near his home. He covered politics, corruption, and the activities of local criminal groups on his Facebook page Citizen Journalist PK and its corresponding YouTube channel.
Moreover, Agra served as district president of the Insaf Students Federation, the student wing of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, according to Dawn.
Muhammad Zada Agra spoke out against drug gangs and corruption in Malakand. Credit: Dawn
According to news reports, Malakand district police deputy commissioner Anwarul Haq told a press conference yesterday that two men associated with local drug traffickers were arrested and that a motorcycle and Kalashnikov rifle used in the murder were recovered from the accused.
During a public hearing in October, Agra criticized the now former deputy commissioner of the Malakand police for inaction in dealing with local drug cartels.
On his personal Facebook page, Agra published an allegation that the former deputy commissioner was part of a "dirty conspiracy" and was trying to abuse his authority by harassing and arresting the journalist. Agra also said that the former deputy commissioner was responsible if anything happened to him.
Following Agra's death, protesters gathered in Sakhakot and stated that the journalist informed authorities about threats to his life but was not offered protection, according to Samaa TV. It was not clear whether the threats were related to his journalism or his other activities.
One day after Agra's death, the deputy commissioner and an assistant commissioner of the Malakand police were suspended.
Journalist Shahid Zehri was also killed in Pakistan in October.
* This article contained information that was sourced from the Committee to Protect Journalists.
