Registration of FIR against journalists deplored
SANGHAR- Journalists here have expressed great anger at the registration of criminal cases against five editors and reporters of Sindhi dailies at the Sinjhoro police station.
Black flags are hoisted on the press club building, and the journalists are wearing black arm-bands.
The police action followed criticism of a Zakat committee official by two women recently and publication subsequently of a report in this regard. Kheer Bai and Izzat Bai of the Soomar Leghari village had held a news conference at the Sinjhoro press club on June 30 against the local Zakat committee chairman, Mohammad Shafiq Leghari. Before this, they had spoken at the Hyderabad Press Club on June 15 criticizing the alleged maladministration by Mr Leghari. A report about this was published in some newspapers on July 16.
Mr Leghari then lodged an First Information Report (FIR) (# 58/2002) under section 12/7 (Qazaf) against the two women, as well as against reporters Shaukat Arain, Mohabbat Mangrio, Ghulam Qadir Panhwar, Khuda Bux Solangi, Saz Khaskheli and editors Mohammad Ali Qazi of Kawish, Rasheed Rajar of Koshish, Qazi Shah Mohammad of Tameer-i- Sindh, Mohammad Saleh Biloo of Sindh and Khalid Khokhar of Sindhu.
The two women were arrested about a week ago and are lodged in the Central Jail, Karachi. The brothers of the women, as well as other villagers – Wahid Bux Solangi, Allah Warayo, Mohammad Juman, Haji Qaim Din, and Allah Jurio Solangi – recorded their statements in a local court. Both the women were also brought to the court where they recorded their statements, repeating the allegations against Mr Leghari.
No journalist was allowed to talk with them. An 8-year-old son of Izzat Bai was also not allowed to meet his mother. The women were again sent to the jail.
The Awam Dost members of the district council have condemned the registration of cases against the journalists.
Source: Dawn
Date:7/26/2002
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