Pakistan's Senior journalist Khalil Malik, Wife shot Dead
'Pakistan Times' Federal Bureau

ISLAMABAD: Senior journalist Khalil Malik was shot dead by former wife in his office who herself later committed suicide on Wednesday morning, a police official said, reports Pakistan's state-run news agency.

The police recovered a pistol and two bullet cases from the scene and shifted the bodies of Khalil Malik and his former wife Sara Hassan to PIMS for autopsy.

According to police late Khalil Malik had divorced Sara Hassan one month ago.

Staff members of the office of Khalil Malik say that Sara Hassan came there to meet her former husband. They went to another room.

They locked the door from inside. After a while the staff members heard a sound of two shots from the room.

The staff members knocked the door but nobody opened it.

They then informed Rescue-15 who broke the door open and found both Khalil and Sara lying dead, with a pistol and bullet cases beside them. The police have seized the pistol.

PM Condoles

Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani Wednesday expressed deep sorrow over the tragic death of senior journalist Khalil Malik and his wife who was also a journalist.

In his condolence message to the younger brother of the deceased, Khushnood Ali Khan, the Prime Minister said late Khalil Malik was recognized for his contribution to the cause of his community.

The Prime Minister expressed concern over the unfortunate death of Khalil Malik.

He prayed to Almighty Allah to bless the departed souls and give courage and fortitude to the bereaved family and relatives to bear this irreparable loss.

Zardari Condoles

Co-chairman, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Asif Ali Zardari Wednesday expressed deep sorrow over the death of a senior journalist Khalil Malik and his wife.

In a condolence message issued from PPP Media Cell, Bilawal House, Asif Zardari has prayed to Allah Almighty to rest the departed souls in eternal peace and grant courage and fortitude to the bereaved family to bear the loss.

Sherry on Inquiry

And, Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Sherry Rehman Wednesday said that an inquiry to investigate the murder of senior journalist Khalil Malik and Saira Khan has been ordered.

The Minister was talking to media persons after visiting the mortuary of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), where the bodies of two deceased have been kept for post mortem.

Sherry Rehman urged the media not to speculate on the rumours about the killing of the two journalists but to wait instead for the inquiry report.

She expressed her sorrow over the murder of the two journalists and prayed to Allah to rest the departed souls in eternal peace and grant fortitude to the members of the bereaved families to bear this loss with equanimity.

The Minister assured the mother of deceased Saira Khan who was also present on the occasion that justice will be provided to her family.

It may be mentioned here that the senior journalist Khalil Malik and his former wife were shot dead here Wednesday morning at their residence in the federal capital, a police official said.●