Journalist Aziz Memon died of suffocation: post-mortem report

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An employee of a local television channel shows a picture of slain journalist Aziz Memon on his mobile in Hyderabad, Pakistan, February 17, 2020. Committee to Protect Journalists/via AP/Pervez Masih/Files

MEHRABPUR: Aziz Memon, a journalist associated with a local Sindhi channel and newspaper who was found murdered last month in Naushehro Feroze, died of suffocation, according to a post-mortem examination report released by authorities on Friday.

Memon's body was recovered from a river on February 16, with a cable wrapped around his neck. The local reporter had earlier accused the PPP, as well as Naushehro Feroze police, of threatening him for unflattering reporting of party chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari's widely-publicised 'train march' in 2019.

Shortly after news of the journalist's murder broke, journalists in Islamabad had protested against his killing and asked the Chief Justice to look into the matter.

Sindh sets up JIT to probe murder

Separately, the government of Sindh also set up a joint investigation team (JIT) under Additional Inspector-General of Police (AIG) for Hyderabad Region Dr Waliullah Dal to probe Memon's murder, a notification from the provincial home department issued Friday confirmed.

Approved by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, the nine-member JIT would submit a report on their findings in 15 days, the notification added.

Also read: Sindh CM says journalist Aziz Memon's killers will be caught

The JIT comprises officers from the police, Intelligence Bureau (IB), and Special Branch.

Earlier, a day after the journalist was found dead, Science and Technology Minister Fawad Chaudhry had also urged the top judge to take notice of Memon's mysterious death.

'Old' video

Chaudhry had noted in particular that the slain journalist had made allegations against the ruling party in Sindh prior to his death, and suggested that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) should investigate the murder.

Shah, the chief minister, had condemned Memon's death, saying authorities would soon catch his killers. 

Memon was was carrying out his duties independently, Shah had stated, claiming that a video of the slain journalist — in which he referred to threats to his life — was an "old" one.