IGP suspends four cops for manhandling senior journalists
KARACHI- Four police officials have been placed under immediate suspension by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Sindh Syed Kamal Shah for manhandling a husband and wife who happen to be both senior journalists, along with their son aged nine years. Police officials manhandled the senior journalist Aamir Malik in broad daylight at the busy Schon Center, giving death threats to his journalist wife and their nine-year-old son on the alleged charges of violating traffic rules.
Aamir Ahmad Malik, city editor of The News along with his wife Huma Aamir Malik, news editor of the South Asian Dispatch Agency (SADA), and their son Mahadi were on their way to a bank in Clifton when traffic police assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Ikram suddenly came in front of their car from the wrong side of the road, forcing them to halt the vehicle.
The ASI accused them of violating the signal and shouting abuses asked them to get down from their car. Malik, who had got out of the vehicle by then asked the police official not to misbehave with his family, but in return he was roughed up amidst a barrage of abuses and threats. Declaring them “terrorists and bandits,” the ASI called two police constables posted in a nearby kiosk and Sub-inspector Malik Mohammed Ejaz, ordered immediate arrest of all three.
A police constable got into the car at gunpoint and shoved the frightened child aside. Hundreds of people watched as the policemen pointing their assault rifles toward the harassed family escorted them to the (Darakhshan (Clifton) Police Station.
When the journalists said that they would make a formal complaint about their harassment with the Inspector General of Sindh Police Syed Kamal Shah, the ASI and the SI said that no senior official, even their chief could touch them. “Just listen to us and do as we tell you. Drive to the police station or we will shoot you,” said a policeman pointing the gun from the backseat of the car towards the two journalists seated in front.
Meanwhile, Malik tried to contact senior police officials, including the Inspector General (IG), and his high-ups on the mobile telephone. SP Munir Ahmed Shaikh who could be immediately reached ordered the release of journalists when he learnt about the whole incident, though the defying ASI Ikram refused to take orders of the Town Police Officer Shaikh on the mobile phone.
Taking a very serious note of the incident the IGP Kamal Shah rang up the Darakhshan Police Station where the family was detained and promised stern action against the police officials who apparently took the family to the police station to extort money. After inquiry, the responsible officials would be dismissed, Shah said while regretting the incident. “I will give them exemplary punishment so that in future no innocent citizen is victimised by these black sheep,” Shah assured them both over the phone.
Three of the police officials, including constable, Abid Ali and M. Ilyas and ASI Ikram were immediately suspended, while SI Ejaz Malik who had ‘escaped’ on the plea of refuelling his bike was later called to the Central Police Office (CPO) on the insistence of Malik and immediately suspended by Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Traffic Saud Ahmed Mirza under the orders of the IG Sindh. An enquiry is underway and in the presence of at least eight high officials, all above the ranks of Superintendent Police (SPs), DIG Traffic assured that stern action would be taken against the errant cops.
An official handout issued from CPO said ” IGP Sindh Syed Kamal Shah taking strict note of an incident in which area and traffic police officials manhandled two senior journalists in Clifton area, ordered immediate suspension of four cops including Section Officer (SO) Clifton, SI Malik Muhammad Ejaz, ASI Clifton Section, Ikramul Haq, police constables of Clifton PS, Muhammad Ilyas and Abid Ali. IG Sindh also ordered to submit a complete report after conducting an inquiry for taking stern action against these officials.
Source: The News
Date:7/21/2002
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