KARACHI, August 22, 2025 — The death of journalist Khawar Hussain, whose body was discovered in his car in Sanghar on August 16, has officially been declared a suicide by an investigative committee, following a comprehensive probe into the circumstances of his passing.
According to the report submitted to Sindh Inspector General of Police, the findings were based on CCTV footage, forensic evidence, and medical reports, all of which confirmed that Hussain died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound using his licensed pistol. The footage reviewed from Karachi to Sanghar traced his movements, showing him dining at a local restaurant before returning to his vehicle, where he remained alone for nearly two hours until the incident occurred.
Despite the official conclusion, Hussain’s family has strongly rejected the suicide ruling, insisting that he was murdered. His father, who arrived from the United States along with other relatives, stated that Khawar “was a fearless person who could never take his own life.” In response to these claims, a medical board was formed to conduct a second post-mortem, which found no signs of torture on his body.
Investigators also uncovered significant details about Hussain’s final hours, including the resetting of one of his mobile phones to factory settings, the deletion of its data, and the removal of its SIM card. His second phone remains missing, and investigators are working to trace it.
The inquiry, led by Additional IGP CTD Azad Khan, along with DIG West Irfan Baloch and SSP Sanghar Abid Baloch, is expected to submit its final findings to the Sindh Home Minister. Meanwhile, journalist organizations and the Karachi Press Club have demanded transparency, stressing the broader issue of journalists’ safety in Pakistan.
Khawar Hussain, a respected journalist with nearly a decade of service in Karachi’s media industry, was laid to rest at Sanghar’s Eidgah graveyard, with a large number of journalists, political leaders, and relatives in attendance.
