UC chairman accused of killing journalist still at large

SIALKOT - Sialkot Union Council (UC) Chairman Imran Cheema, who is accused of a print journalist’s murder, remains out of the police’s reach even after a week since the killing, reported a private media outlet on Tuesday.

Zeeshan Butt, a journalist associated with a Lahore-based newspaper, had visited Cheema’s office in the Sambrial Tehsil on March 27 to inquire about the taxes imposed on shop owners in the Begowala Union Council, according to an audiotape of his last telephonic conversation.

Following a harsh exchange of words between the PML-N UC chairman and the journalist, the latter was issued death threats from Cheema — verified by the audiotape of the journalist's telephonic conversation with District Council Chairman Hina Arshad Waraich.

The journalist, who had called Waraich to complain against Cheema's death threats, did not get a chance to complete his conversation. The sound of three shots, allegedly fired at Butt, during the conversation are clearly audible in the audiotape.

Prior to calling Waraich, Butt had contacted the area's SHO, informed him about receiving death threats from Cheema, however, the authorities failed to respond to his request for assistance.

The man succumbed to injuries sustained from the firing within the UC Begowala office premises — site of the incident.

Family of the deceased continues to demand justice as authorities fail to make any progress in the case.

Local police have said they are using the latest technology to trace the accused, who had fled the site-of-incident. When reached, DPO Sialkot was not available for a comment.