Deceased journalist Khawar Hussain's family arrives in Pakistan

The family of deceased journalist Khawar Hussain arrived in Pakistan from the United States on Monday. They later departed from Jinnah International Airport in Karachi for Sanghar, where his funeral prayers will be held after Zuhr prayer.

Khawar was found shot dead in his car on Saturday night near a hotel in Sanghar. Police initially declared the incident a suicide, stating that a gun was found in his hand and that he had sustained a gunshot wound to the head.

However, Khawar’s family, fellow journalists, and journalist organisations strongly rejected the police's claims. They insist that Khawar was full of life and could never have taken his own life, demanding a fair and unbiased investigation into the matter.

On Monday, Khawar’s family, including his father Rehmat Hussain Bajwa, his mother, and his brothers, arrived at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi. They travelled to Hyderabad to receive his remains.

The family will bring his body to his hometown in Sanghar, where funeral prayers will be offered.

Speaking to journalists at the airport, Khawar’s father, Rehmat Hussain, denied the possibility of suicide and expressed concerns that his son may have been murdered.

Read: Slain journalist Khawar Hussain's body samples sent for chemical examination

"We had no land disputes or enmity with anyone,” he said. “My son was brave and courageous. There is no reason he would shoot himself. It seems like murder.”

He further added, “We were not present here, so we don’t have much information yet. The investigation is underway, and we will see what facts are revealed.”

According to police, the remains of the journalist are currently at Civil Hospital in Hyderabad for a postmortem examination. A medical board constituted by the Sindh government will conduct the examination.

Apart from the ongoing investigation, a high-level committee has been formed to probe Khawar Hussain’s death.

The committee is headed by Additional Inspector General (AIG) of the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), Azad Khan. Other members include Deputy Inspector General (DIG) West, Irfan Baloch, and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Abid Baloch.

The committee has been tasked with investigating all aspects of the case and will submit its report to the Sindh Home Department within seven days.

Earlier, DIG Faisal Bashir Memon stated that Khawar had kept a pistol for personal security. CCTV footage showed that Khawar parked his car and went to the washroom twice before the incident. The footage also confirmed that he was alone at the time.