MALAKAND: Protests erupted on Tuesday after social media activist, Muhammad Zada Agra, was gunned down by unidentified attackers in Sakhakot area of Malakand district.
Activist Muhammad Zada, who was also a member of the student wing of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, was shot dead outside his residence in the College Colony area of Sakhakot.
Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan also took notice of Muhammad Zada’s murder and directed provincial police chief to immediately arrest activist’s killers.
KP Information Minister Kamran Bangash on Tuesday announced that Deputy Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner Malakand have been suspended and made OSD. “A rigorous inquiry report has been ordered to be presented soon by the office of Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa”, he added.
Bangash said that a transparent inquiry would be held into the incident and culprits would be punished. “No one is above the law. The government will provide complete legal assistance to the affected family,” he added.
His murder sparked outrage and a large number of people gathered in Sakhakot. They placed his coffin on the Malakand Road and staged a sit-in, chanting slogans against local authorities. The protesters said Agra had informed the authorities about the threats to his life but he was offered no protection.
Zada was reportedly running a social media campaign against drug peddlers and other criminals in his area. Social media users also mourned the murder while demanding justice for the slain activist. #JusticeforMuhammadZada became one of the top trends on Twitter.
Member National Assembly (MNA) Mohsin Dawar, taking to Twitter, said Zada was known for raising his voice against corruption, drug mafia and oppression, and struggled for justice for his people. “Peaceful activists who demand rights continue being killed in cold blood,” he added.
Muhammad Zada Agra, a social activist and a worker of PTI, has been killed in Malakand. He raised his voice against corruption, drug mafia and oppression and struggled for justice for his people. Peaceful activists who demand rights continue being killed in cold blood. pic.twitter.com/BnC5421FRA
— Mohsin Dawar (@mjdawar) November 9, 2021
Freedom Network, a media watchdog, tweeted that Zada was killed days after he spoke about “alleged corruption and drugs business in front of senior government official”.
Another #citizen_journalist was killed in #Pakistan days after he spoke about alleged corruption, drugs business in front of senior govt official. Muhammad Zada was shot dead in Sakhakot town in #Malakand region in #KP on 8 November. #FreedomNetwork demands arrest of killers. pic.twitter.com/0DKfhS78uQ
— Freedom Network (@pressfreedompk) November 9, 2021
Another user tweeted: “Agra was a strong voice against drug mafia, nepotism, corruption and bureaucratic oppression in Malakand. He has been silenced by the mafia.”
Muhammad Zada Agra a Strong Voice against Drug Mafia, Nepotism, Corruption and bureaucratic oppression in Malakand bas been silenced/Murdered by the Mafia. He was a good social activist and one of the few sensible worker of PTI. May his soul rest in Peace
#JusticeForMuhammadZada pic.twitter.com/yx3g1YAK94— Tariq Afghan (@afghan_tariq) November 9, 2021
