KARACHI- A senior journalist was beaten up and subjected to utter humiliation by some policemen near Guru Mandir on April 01, 2003 morning.

Syed Ashfaq Ali, Senior Sub-Editor of Daily News, was going on his motorcycle around 9:25am to office, when a police mobile (SP-5902) crossed him almost hitting his motorcycle. A cop sitting on front seat of the mobile pushed the riding journalist and abused him. On his protest, the mobile stopped and the cops started beating and abusing him.

The journalist has appealed to Sindh Governor, Dr Ishratul Ebad; Sindh Chief Minister, Ali Muhammad Maher; and police high-ups to take serious note of this flagrant police excess.

The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) have strongly condemned the police attitude towards the senior journalist. The unions have demanded of the Inspector General (IG) Police, Syed Kamal Shah to take immediate notice against those involved in the incident.

In a SOS to the IGP, PFUJ President, Saeed Aasi; Secretary General, Sajid Aziz; KUJ President, Ali Hamza Khan; and Secretary General, Masood Anwar also condemned the incident. Despite reiterated claims by the government about police reforms, they said that police attitudes towards people had not changed at all.

The PFUJ and KUJ have also demanded of the governor, chief minister and corps commander to take action against the culprits, otherwise, local journalists would resort to protest.
Source: The News
Date:4/2/2003