TV channel’s team abducted, released
Three personnel of “Sindh TV” a regional language TV channel were detained by armed men in the area of Sohrab Goth of Karachi on Tuesday, August 4, 2009.
The detained persons included reporter Mushtaque Ahmed Sarki who is also Joint Secretary of Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ), cameraman Ahsan Sanjrani and driver Aijaz Ali Chandio.
Sarki told PPF that they had gone to cover city government operation for evacuation of illegal occupants of two villages, Dildar Umrani Goth and Ali Muhammad Shaikh Goth. The team covered the event in which affected persons harshly criticized the Nazim (mayor) belonging to a local political party, Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM).
Sarki added that as they were returning to their office at around 4pm, five armed men intercepted them, demanding the video cassettes of the coverage. They said they will not permit media to telecast the villager’s harsh comments against the Nazim and MQM leaders.
The armed men locked them in an office room and snatched their camera and mobile phones.
The incident was witnessed by a local person on whose information; a large contingent of villagers came to their rescue and started firing in the air. This scared the abductors who agreed to release them. In the meantime about a large contingent of police also reached the spot and had them released. The video cassettes and mobile phones was also returned to the abducted media personnel
According to press reports, two abductors identified as Muhammad Iqbal and Adil Khan, were arrested by police on the spot, while three others managed to escape. Police has registered a case against the five abductors.
Source: Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)
Date:8/5/2009
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