Sadaf Naeem’s husband Muhammad Naeem has declared her death an accident and decided not to take any further actions.
He said her wife fell off container and she was crushed in an accident. Police have handed over Sadaf’s dead body to the family,
A private news channel journalist named Sadaf Naeem perished on Sunday after being suffocated by a PTI container during a long march from GT Road Lahore to Kamoke.
Naeem, Sadaf’s husband, revealed to reporters that their daughter saw her on television, which is how they learned of her passing. Together, the couple’s son and daughter are 21 and 15 years old, respectively.
“My daughter saw it on television and said she looked like her mother,” he said, adding that his children asked Sadaf to not go for reporting, but she refused.
Following the incident, PTI Chairman Imran Khan declared that the march will end for the day but resume the following day.
Speaking to the crowd, Khan announced that today’s march was planned to head toward Kamoke, Gujranwala. However, we will immediately halt the march owing to the unfortunate tragedy.
Khan also expressed his condolences to the dead’s family and pledged to offer his prayers for the soul of the deceased.
چیئرمین عمران خان کی خاتون صحافی کیساتھ حادثے پر اظہار تعزیت اور آج کے دن کے لیے لانگ مارچ کو فوری طور پر روک دیا گیا۔
#حقیقی_آزادی_لانگ_مارچ pic.twitter.com/6F5ovNM6XZ
— PTI (@PTIofficial) October 30, 2022
Following the incident, the march came to an end at GT Road, when Imran Khan exited the container.
Rescue workers said that while the reporter was climbing down the container she was already standing on, she tripped and fell under Khan’s container.
Shocked & deeply saddened by the terrible accident that led to the death of Channel 5 reporter Sadaf Naeem during our March today. I have no words to express my sorrow. My prayers & condolences go to the family at this tragic time. We have cancelled our March for today.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) October 30, 2022
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his sorrow at the incident and his condolences to the journalist’s family.
“Deeply saddened by the death of reporter Sadaf Naeem after falling from a long march container. Cannot feel sad enough over this tragic incident. Heartfelt condolences to the family. Sadaf Naeem was a dynamic and hardworking reporter. We pray for patience for the family of the deceased,” he tweeted.
رپورٹر صدف نعیم کی لانگ مارچ کنٹینر سے گرنے سے ہلاکت پر شدید دکھ ہے۔ اندوہناک واقعے پر جتنا افسوس کیاجائے، کم ہے۔ اہل خانہ سے دلی تعزیت کرتے ہیں۔ صدف نعیم ایک متحرک اور محنتی رپورٹر تھیں۔ مرحومہ کی مغفرت اہل خانہ کے لئے صبر جمیل کی دعا کرتے ہیں۔
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) October 30, 2022
PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz has also condemned the incident and prayed for Sadaf and her family.
“I am deeply saddened to hear about the loss of a precious life of a TV reporter Sadaf in the line of duty. My prayers for the bereaved family,” she wrote in her tweet, praying for the deceased to find eternal peace.
I am deeply saddened to hear about the loss of a precious life of a TV reporter Sadaf in the line of duty. My prayers for the bereaved family. May she rest in eternal peace. Ameen.
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) October 30, 2022
The President of Pakistan Dr Arif Alvi also extended his sympathies to the reporter’s family.
صدر مملکت ڈاکٹر عارف علوی کا خاتون صحافی صدف نعیم کے جان بحق ہونے پر اظہارِ افسوس
صدر مملکت کی مرحومہ کیلئے دعائے مغفرت، بلندی درجات کی دعا
صدر مملکت کا اہل خانہ سے اظہارِ ہمدردی، صبر جمیل کی دعا
دکھ کی اِس گھڑی میں ہمدردیاں اہل خانہ کے ساتھ ہیں، صدر مملکت
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) October 30, 2022
Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, the chief minister of Punjab, expressed sadness for the event and conveyed his deepest sympathies and condolences to Sadaf’s family.
Asad Umar and Fawad Chaudhry, two PTI leaders and former ministers, shared their sorrow over the event on Twitter.
“I rarely come across reporters as brave and diligent as Sadaf. a strong girl. Her eyes lit up after I introduced her to Imran Khan as the bravest and most hard-working reporter. Who knew that the meeting will be the last one. May God have mercy on her,” Fawad wrote in his tweet.