Death of Sadaf Naeem
Sadaf Naeem was a Pakistani journalist. She worked as a news reporter with Channel 5 from 2009 until her death. She died on 30 October 2022 at the age of 40 in an accident after falling from a container during the Azadi March II of the Pakistan Tehrek-e-Insaf from Grand Trunk Road, Lahore to Kamoke, Gujranwala.
Life and career
Sadaf was born in 1982 in Ichhra, Lahore, Punjab, and started her career as a model on different TV shows but later she joined Khabrain Media Group and was at Channel 5 since 2009. She had two brothers and one sister. Sadaf was married to the press photographer Naeem Bhatti and had 2 children.Death
She died in an accident on 30 October 2022 after falling to death. She was on her live coverage duty covering Imran Khan's Azadi March II. It is common that reporters are invited up on the trucks. While trying to cover the march in close proximity, she tried to climb a shipping container aiming for an interview with Imran Khan. Similarly as she did the day before. After she fell on the ground she was run over by the truck carrying Imran Khan. Even though an ambulance was called for and she was rushed to the nearby hospital she was pronounced dead on arrival. A journalist reported that a guard belonging to the protest pushed her before she fell. Her husband deemed her death an accident and signed a letter refraining from pressing charges to Mian Muhammad Aslam Iqbal, a Minister of the Punjab Government. She was buried in Lahore on 31 October.Investigation
The Pakistani Minister of the Interior Rana Sanaullah deemed the Punjabi administration responsible to carry out a proper investigation. Following, a fact finding commission to investigate death of Naeem was announced by the Punjabi Minister of Law Raja Basharat.Domestic political reactions
After becoming aware of her death, Imran Khan announced a stop to his Azadi March for the rest of the day. The next day Khan, accompanied by PTI party officials, visited her family's residence in order to offer condolences to her family. The Health Minister of Punjab Yasmin Rashid 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. Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif shared condolences with her family on Twitter and announced Rs. 5 million in financial aid for her family. 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. Elahi also delivered them a cheque over Rs. 50 millions and the Punjabi Government decided to investigate the causes of Naeem's death. Other Pakistani officials assured the state would cover the costs of Naeem's children upbringing and education.The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz however, questioned Imran Khan if dead journalists were his "revolution". 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.