Prominent Pakistani journalist Latif Baloch shot dead in Balochistan province
New York, May 27, 2025—Pakistani authorities must immediately investigate the May 24 killing of journalist Latif Baloch in the southwestern province of Balochistan and ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday.
In the morning, unidentified gunmen broke into Baloch’s home in the Mashkay Tehsil subdivision of Awaran district and shot him dead, according to the local nonprofit Rural Media Network Pakistan. Baloch was struck by four bullets, according to a BBC report, and the four attackers used AK-47 rifles in the assault.
Local police informed the media that an investigation into the killing was underway. The motive remains unclear.
“Pakistani authorities must immediately investigate the reasons behind Latif Baloch’s killing and determine whether it was linked to his work as a journalist,” said Beh Lih Yi, CPJ’s Asia regional director. “Journalists in Pakistan face growing violence and intimidation from both state and non-state actors. The government must ensure the safety and freedom of journalists in Balochistan and across the country.”
Baloch was affiliated with major media outlets, including Daily Intekhab, AAJ News, and ARY News, covering the volatile province.
The Balochistan police Inspector General, Moazzam Jah Ansari, did not respond to CPJ’s request for comment via messaging app.
Pakistan remains a dangerous environment for journalists, with heightened risks for those reporting critically on militancy, powerful entities, the military establishment, public corruption, and crime.
CPJ has documented 75 journalists and media workers who have been killed in Pakistan in connection with their work since 1992. Pakistan ranked 12th on CPJ’s 2024 Global Impunity Index, which highlights countries where members of the press are targeted for murder and the perpetrators go unpunished.