May 24, 2025
By Ahmed Saeed
LAHORE
A local journalist, Latif Baloch, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in the early hours of Saturday in the Mashkay tehsil of the Awaran district, Balochistan, Awaran police confirmed.
Baloch was associated with the local newspaper Daily Intikhab as Bureau Chief and had also worked as a freelance reporter for national TV channels including ARY News and Aaj TV.
According to Sumbar Baloch, a cousin of the deceased, masked men entered Latif’s house at around 5 am, woke him from sleep, and asked him to come with them. When he refused, they shot him in front of his family members.
“Latif told them he would not go with them and asked them to shoot him if they wanted to. They then opened fire,” she told Voicepk.
SHO Abdul Waheed of Awaran City Police Station confirmed to Voicepk that Latif was shot in the head and chest, and died on the spot. He added that an FIR would be registered once a formal complaint is received from the family.
Sumbar further revealed that Latif had previously gone missing on two occasions, three to four years ago. “The first time, he was missing for about 45 days. A few months later, he disappeared again—this time for nearly a year,” she said.
Latif is survived by his wife, two daughters, and a son. “His elder son, Saif Latif Baloch, was also killed by unidentified gunmen in February 2025,” Sumbar added.
Awaran is one of Balochistan’s most remote and underdeveloped districts and has been plagued by violence for over two decades. Dr. Allah Nazar Baloch, the current leader of the banned separatist group Baloch Liberation Front (BLF), also hails from Awaran.
’40 journalists have been killed over the past two decades in Awaran’
A local journalist from Awaran told Voicepk that Latif had extensively covered the Baloch conflict in the past and had also interviewed Dr. Allah Nazar. However, Daily Intikhab editor Jiyand Sajidi said that Latif had not been reporting on the conflict for the past few months and had shifted his focus to social issues. He also noted that Latif had not reported any recent threats.
Journalist unions condemn murder
Hameedullah Sherani, Balochistan coordinator for Freedom Network—an NGO working on journalist safety—also said he was not aware of any specific threats to Latif. However, he added that the overall environment in Balochistan remains hostile to journalists, who often face threats and harassment for their work.
“At least 40 journalists have been killed in Balochistan over the past two decades because of their reporting,” Sherani said.
Press bodies and journalists have strongly condemned Latif Baloch’s killing and demanded a transparent investigation to ensure justice is served.
The Balochistan Union of Journalists (BUJ) described Latif as a committed and honest journalist. “His killing appears to be part of ongoing efforts to silence independent voices. The BUJ demands a high-level investigation into the matter,” the union said in a statement, adding that journalists in a sensitive province like Balochistan face constant threats, and such incidents raise serious concerns about the government’s failure to protect them.
Meanwhile the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) also strongly condemned the heinous murder of Abdul Latif Baloch, a journalist working for Daily Intikhab, in Mashkey tehsil of Awaran district in Balochistan.The acting president of the PFUJ, Khalid Khokhar and Secretary General Arshad Ansari expressed their shock and outrage over the brutal killing. ‘This senseless act of violence is a stark reminder of the risks journalists face while performing their duties,’ said their statement.
“We demand that the authorities take immediate and concrete actions to investigate this crime, identify the perpetrators, and bring them to justice” they demanded. The PFUJ also calls for enhanced security measures to protect journalists and ensure their safety while reporting.
The PFUJ condemned the threats Abdul Latif Baloch received prior to his murder.
‘Such acts of intimidation create a climate of fear, undermining press freedom and democracy. We stand in solidarity with Abdul Latif Baloch’s family, colleagues, and the Baluchistan journalist community, and pledge to continue advocating for journalists’ rights and safety.’
They urged PFUJ leadership saying that, the government should take concrete steps to address the deteriorating security situation for journalists and media workers in Balochistan and across Pakistan.