On 25 December 2013, Dahar files a complaint with Station House Officer of Badah police station, Shah Jahan Jhakrani about threats he had been receiving because of his work. After Shan’s murder, the book containing his complaints mysteriously disappears. The above video was recorded by Shan Dahar during his journalistic investigations in 2013 and allegedly depicts the illicit transaction of medicine donated by a local NGO.

In the early hours of 1 January 2014, Shan Dahar is shot multiple times by assailants he would later identify to be brothers Irfan and Amir Zehri. Shan is rushed to the hospital, but dies 9 hours later without receiving treatment for his injuries.

Chief Minister of Sindh Province, Syed Qaim Ali Shah asks the Sindh Inspector General (IG) of Police to submit a report on the incident within three days. Larkana Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police constitutes a five-member committee, headed by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Sajid Khokhar to investigate the killing. The investigation declares the attack on Dahar was not targeted, but a result of stray firing during New Year’s Eve celebrations.

The Chief Minister announces the government will begin to provide free education to the two daughters of the slain journalist, citing humanitarian reasons. The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) also provided monthly financial assistance to the family of Dahar for two years. The last payment was received in May 2017.

After the killing of Dahar, journalists hold demonstrations in Sindh province to protest the doctors’ negligence and to demand the killers’ arrest and further compensation of the bereaved family.

Riaz Hussain Khushk, brother-in-law of Dahar submits a request to the DIG of Sindh Police on 24 February 2014 to reinvestigate the case, as the First Information Report was registered under the Pakistani legal code for murder but investigated as a killing that occurs by any “rash or negligent act”.

On 2 April 2014, the local NGO Madadgaar National Helpline writes a letter to the Inspector General (IG) of Sindh Police urging him to reinvestigate the killing of Dahar. On 7 April, Dahar’s sister Fouzia Sultana also writes to the IG Sindh police to request a reinvestigation of her brother’s murder.

As the result of an investigatory committee established by the medical superintendent of CMCH, on 12 May, Chief Secretary of Sindh Province, Sajjad Saleem Hotiana suspended Dr. Abdul Ghaffar Kandhro, the doctor in charge of the Rural Health Center, Badah and Dr Ali Gohar Chandio, Senior Medical Officer at CMCH’s Larkana Surgery Department for negligence in treating Shan Dahar.

In November 2015, the Larkana police submit the case to the court of the District and Sessions Judge Larkana under section 319, killed by a stray bullet. This decision is made in spite of Dahar’s statement that he was deliberately targeted by the Zehri brothers.

In February 2016, Fouzia Sultana contacts MLDI seeking assistance with legal representation. Karachi-based Advocate Abdullah Nizamani agrees to take on their case with MLDI’s support.

On 11 April, Fouzia Sultana along with Babu Iqbal, President of Larkana press club and other local journalists met Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Larkana, Abdullah Shaikh and submitted an application for re-investigation of Shan Dahar's case. On 19 April, the DIG issued written orders for re-investigation of the case and assembled a team that consists of Tauqeer Naeem, Superintendent of Police (SP); Yar Muahmmad Rind, Inspector; Shabir Ahmed Shaikh, Inspector and Sajjad Ahmed Bhatti, Assistant Superintendent of Police.

On 23 April, SP Tauqeer Naeem visited the crime scene along with his investigative team. Naeem took a statement from Shan’s brother Riaz Khuskh and assured the family that justice would be served under his watch.

On 6 May, Abdullah Nizamani withdraws his support to Shan Dahar’s case, citing the great distance between Karachi and Larkana. On 9 May, Fouzia Sultana contacts MLDI to help her in arranging the support of a Larkana-based lawyer.

On 19 May, a delegation consisting of the Pakistan Press Foundation and Dahar’s sister Fouzia Sultana met the Secretary of Home Department Sindh, Mr. Qazi Shahid Pervez to request a renewed and fully independent reinvestigation and punishment of the perpetrators. On his orders, the investigation was transferred to a new jurisdiction under Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Dadu, Hyderabad Range, Shabbir Ahmed Sethar.

According to unconfirmed information, Sethar submitted a report to the Inspector General of Sindh Police in the month of July. Although the police have yet to provide a copy of the report to the family, it is believed that it confirms the police’s negligence in the initial investigation, as well as mishandling of evidence.