Story about ‘police high-handedness ’Bureau chief of The News Gujranwala manhandled
GUJRANWALA: A CPO office clerk manhandled The News Gujranwala bureau chief Azam Butt for publishing a story about the alleged high-handedness of the police.
On Wednesday night, Azam Butt was going to his home after filing stories when Sikandar, the CPO office clerk, stopped him at gunpoint on Bukhari Road, called him names, beat him up and threatened to kill him for publishing a story against him on January 12. On the intervention of locals, including Syed Habib and Abbas Butt, the accused went away while threatening Azam Butt with dire consequences if he again published reports about the police excesses. On the intervention of the police high-ups, the Civil Lines police have registered a case against Sikandar and arrested him. Meanwhile, a local court has remanded the accused in police custody.
In a meeting, journalists have condemned the incident and demanded stern action against the culprit. They termed the incident an attempt to gag newsmen. They demanded the police high-ups provide protection to journalists.
They vowed to continue their protest till termination of the accused. Gujranwala Press Club president Farhan Rashid Mir, Secretary General Hafiz Shahid Munir, Finance Secretary Nazim Butt, Tanveer Butt, Rana Amir, Musarrat Khilji and Rashid attended the meeting.
Meanwhile, the Electronic Media Reporters Association, Kasur Press Club and District Union of Journalists have condemned the manhandling of Gujranwala The News bureau chief Azam Butt by a clerk of the Gujranwala CPO office. During a meeting, they said that journalists were being victimised at the behest of government. They appealed to the chief minister to take stern action against the accused and police officials backing him.
They said that they would be forced to come on roads if action was not taken against the accused. M Saleemur Rahman, Tariq Jatt, Dr Zakir Hussain, Takreem Ali, Rafique Nisar, Shaukat Naqashbandi and Khadim Ali Khokhar attended the meeting.
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