Ghulam Rasool Birhamani (1970?–1980? – 9/10 May 2010), a native of the

Sindh Sindh ( ; ; , ; abbr. SD, historically romanized as Sind (caliphal province), Sind or Scinde) is a Administrative units of Pakistan, province of Pakistan. Located in the Geography of Pakistan, southeastern region of the country, Sindh is t ...

province,

Pakistan Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...

, was working as a reporter for the Daily Sindhu Hyderabad in Wahi Pandhi (

Gorakh Hill Gorakh Hill (; Urdu: گورکھ ہل) is a hill station of Sindh, Pakistan. It is situated at an elevation of in the Kirthar Mountains, northwest of Dadu city. Tourism The Gorakh hill station is situated from Karachi and nearly 8 hours' ...

), Dadu on a controversial story involving

child marriage Child marriage is a practice involving a marriage or domestic partnership, formal or informal, that includes an individual under 18 and an adult or other child.* * * * Research has found that child marriages have many long-term negative co ...

when his body was found the morning after he went missing on 9 May 2010.The Dawn. "Journalists up in protest against colleague's murder." 13 May 2010. Retrieved 4 December 201
Dawn.com
/ref>Committee to Protect Journalists. 2010. "Ghulam Rasool Birhamani." Retrieved 18 September 201
CPJ

Death

Birhamani, between the ages of 30 and 40, was kidnapped on 9 May 2010. His body was found the next day outside Wahi Pandhi in the Sindh province of Pakistan, and was reported to have been badly scarred and showed signs of torture.Reporters Without Borders. 2010. "Journalist Found Dead After Revealing Tribal Marriage Customs." Retrieved 18 September 201

. At the time of his death Birhamani was working on a story about a 12-year-old girl who was forced to marry Najma Lashari, who was ten years her senior. This marriage was among members of the Lashari tribe, who were not very happy with Birhamani's report about child marriage. Birhamani allegedly received several threats from members of the tribe before he went missing.CPJ. 2010. "In Pakistan, Sindh Journalist's Body Found," 12 May. Retrieved 18 September 201

Committee to Protect Journalists. 2010. "Local Pakistani Reporter's Murder Reflects Global Issue." Retrieved 18 September 201
CPJ
According to a physician at the Johi Taluka hospital, Birhamani died of a head injury.

Context

Birhamani spent most of his career focusing on ethnic violence and tribal politics. His family believes that had a great deal to do with his death, not just his more recent interactions with the Lashari tribe. According to CPJ, 90 percent of all journalists killed worldwide are local reporters.

Impact

In the past decade thirteen other journalists have been murdered in Pakistan. The authorities have won convictions in only one of those cases, and that was for

Daniel Pearl Daniel Pearl (October 10, 1963 – February 1, 2002) was an American journalist who worked for ''The Wall Street Journal.'' On January 23, 2002, he was kidnapped by Jihadism, jihadist militants while he was on his way to what he had expected wou ...

, a US reporter, in 2002.

Impunity Impunity is the ability to act with exemption from punishments, losses, or other negative consequences. In the international law of human rights, impunity is failure to bring perpetrators of human rights violations to justice and, as such, itsel ...

was the issue that journalists' groups focused on. A seven-day mourning period in the Dadu district was announced for all press clubs and journalist organisations, and a procession was held by Birhamani's colleagues to protest his murder and call for the punishment of his killers. Political parties like the

Pakistan People's Party The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is a political party in Pakistan and one of the three major Pakistani political parties alongside the Pakistan Muslim League (N) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. With a centre-left political position, it is cu ...

also participated. Afterward, two Lasharis were arrested for Birhamani's murder.

Reactions

A march was held to protest Birhamani's murder, and hundreds of journalists participated. The

Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the second-largest Muslim population as of 2023. Islamabad is the nat ...

, the

Pakistan Press Foundation The Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) was established in 1967 as a non-profit organisation by the news agency Pakistan Press International and operated until 1974, when it had to suspend operations due to the political environment then prevailing i ...

, and the

Committee to Protect Journalists The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is an American 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in New York City, with correspondents around the world. CPJ promotes press freedom and defends the rights of journalists. The '' American Journalism ...

joined together to demand an investigation into the murder. Bob Dietz, program coordinator for the Committee to Protect Journalists, said: “We call for a swift and through investigation into the killing of Ghulam Rasool Birhamani. Pakistan has an abysmal record in prosecuting the killers of journalists. It is time for the authorities to solve at least one case to show that these murders will not be tolerated." Reporters Without Borders issued the following statement: "It is deeply shocking that a journalist could be killed like this because he dared to criticise certain customs and to expose tribal or family rivalries. We support the various local organizations for the defense of journalists who have expressed their grief and solidarity after this vile murder and we call for a rigorous investigation to quickly find those responsible."

Irina Bokova Irina Georgieva Bokova (; born 12 July 1952) is a Bulgarian politician and a former Director-General of UNESCO (2009–2017). During her political and diplomatic career in Bulgaria, she served, among others, two terms as a member of the Nation ...

, who is the director-general of

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...

, said: "I condemn the murder of Ghulam Rasool Birhamani. No society can allow violence to muzzle journalists while aspiring to uphold human rights and liberties, democracy and rule of law. Journalists are committed to report the truth as they see it. No effort must be spared to bring to justice those who seek to deprive us of our right to know what journalists have to say, and to agree or disagree with it."

Career

Birhamani worked for over two decades for various Sindhi-language dailies, according to the journalists union. Before his death he was a reporter for the Daily Sindhu Hyderabad in Pakistan. He had previously reported on the conversion of minority Hindu girls to Islam, but his most recent scoop had been a story about child marriage.

Personal

Birhamani is survived by a wife, two sons, and a daughter. His name has been added to the Journalists Memorial, which is part of the

Newseum The Newseum (April 18, 1997–March 3, 2002 and April 11, 2008–December 31, 2019) was an American museum located first in Rosslyn, Virginia, and later at 555 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, in Washington, D.C., dedicated to news and journalism that ...

, Washington, D.C."Ghulam Rasool Birhamani," The Journalists Memorial, Newseum (website
Newseum

References

External links

* World Press Freedom Day 2011 {{DEFAULTSORT:Birhamani, Ghulam Rasool 1970s births 2010 deaths Assassinated Pakistani journalists Year of birth uncertain Sindhi people People from Dadu District