Media team of Geo News Manhandled by Police | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

Media team of Geo News Manhandled by Police

Karachi: The Media team of “Geo News”, consisting of a reporter and cameraman, were assaulted and abused by SHO Baldia police station, Karachi, on Thursday October 1, 2009 as they arrived to cover a citizen’s demonstration protesting against protection of a robber by the police.

The SHO, Zulfiqar Samoon not only prevented the team from covering the event but also slapped, kicked and abused Geo reporter Zil-e-Haider and cameraman Tahir Dad.

According to press reports residents of Madina Colony in Baldia town had captured one of the three robbers, identified as Tanveer, who had entered a house for committing robbery. Reports said the angry residents severely thrashed the robber and then tried to set him alight. In the meantime, police from Baldia Police Station arrived and rescued the robber.

As the police took the robber to the police station, the angry mob entered the Baldia police station and tried to recapture the culprit. On resistance from the police, the angry mob pelted stones at the police station and held a demonstration shouting slogans against the police. The SHO Baldia arrested two protestors and locked them up for attacking the police.

The DSP, Baldia, Ghulam Hussain Korai, who rushed to the scene, also witnessed the police misbehaviour with the Geo team. Geo News reporter Zil-e-Haider said they went to the police station after making a phone call to DSP Ghulam Hussain Korai. He said the SHO misbehaved with him and cameraman Tahir, slapped them and whipping out handgun threatened to kill them. DSP Korai said he was present inside the Baldia police station when the incident took place.

Muhammad Ali Wasan, the SP Baldia Town later told newsmen that SHO Zulfiqar had been suspended and three cases under article 180, 181 and 182 of Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) have been registered against him. However later Geo TV reported that the SHO concerned had been able to escape and could not be arrested.

Crime Reporters Association Karachi has strongly condemned the police highhandedness and assaulting of their fellow journalist and correspondent of Geo TV Channel in Baldia Town on Thursday.

President Crime Reporters Association Karachi, Nauman Rafiq, Vice President Sameer Qureshi and Secretary Imran Hafiz strongly condemned incident and demanded strict action against the SHO.
Source: The News and Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)
Date:10/2/2009