Police, ZTBL held responsible for journalists’ bashing
Shakeel Anjum
ISLAMABAD: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Islamabad, Amer Ali Ahmed has submitted inquiry report about the torture of journalists by police and security staff of the Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) when they were performing their duty on April 27, the Interior Ministry sources said.
The report held the police supervisory officer who was station house officer (SHO) Aabpara police station, responsible for the untoward incident saying that the situation could have been tackled through a wise decision and he should have informed his high ups before taking any extreme decision.
After going through the inquiry report into the torture of journalists by security personnel of ZTBL and baton charge by the police on April 27, 2011, Interior Minister, Rehman Malik has ordered Islamabad administration to suspend the concerned SHO and police personnel for criminal negligence.
The DC Islamabad further said that baton charge was done by two policemen as an individual act and without any orders from the Sub Divisional Magistrate and the ASP concerned. SHO Aabpara was present there when the incident took place. Therefore he should have weighed the situation and acted more vigilantly.
The inquiry report says that in this situation the two identified policemen Muhammad Ramzan and Muhammad Nazir acted individually without legal sanction and due to their negligence and unwarranted behaviour many media persons were injured. SHO should have ensured better supervision. Had he performed his duty effectively this incident could have been averted. The act of baton charge by two policemen was an individual act and not a planned police action.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik ordered legal action and arrest of staff of ZTBL who created law and order situation and also ordered registration of FIR on the application of media persons.
In his inquiry report DC Islamabad has stated that EOBI representatives went to ZTBL for execution of necessary court proceedings and scrutiny of statements in this regard also makes it evident that media was just informed about the proceedings and they were not taken as part of a plan. However, one can safely comment that the role of ZTBL administration in creating the whole issue cannot be overlooked.
Federal Interior Minister, Rehman Malik, who agreed with the findings of the inquiry report, has also ordered that the media men injured by police including Sadaqat Ali, SAMA TV, Khalid cameraman Dawn TV as well as those media men and EOBI employees injured by ZTBL security staff may be given compensation by the ZTBL management which should also bear the expenses of their treatment.
The interior minister also agreed with the recommendation of inquiry report that FIR may be registered on the application of media persons. He further said that facts leading to the incident should be unearthed as a consequence of the investigation.
DC Islamabad in his inquiry report says that in-depth scrutiny of the statements of all individuals involved in the episode makes it evident that the ZTBL officials over-reacted when proceedings under section 83 of LRA, 1967 were initiated against them and the role of ZTBL administration in creating the whole issue cannot be ignored.
DC Islamabad has also recommended in his inquiry report that in case of law and order situation, a media corner should be designated to avoid confusion. He further recommended that organizations such as ZTBL should have a media coordinator who should respond to such situations. Had there been such a trained professional with ZTBL, the outcome of the whole incident would have been much different.
Source: The News
Date:5/2/2011
” 
” 
” 
” 
” 
