(PPF/IFEX) – On 21 August 2003, Mahmoodul Haq, the tehsil nazim (municipal administrator) of the town of Sheikhupura, in Punjab province, filed complaints against nine local journalists, including the press club president and secretary-general, claiming they had interfered in official affairs. According to press reports, Haq became angry after articles were published alleging that he […]
(PPF/IFEX) – On 21 August 2003, Mahmoodul Haq, the tehsil nazim (municipal administrator) of the town of Sheikhupura, in Punjab province, filed complaints against nine local journalists, including the press club president and secretary-general, claiming they had interfered in official affairs. According to press reports, Haq became angry after articles were published alleging that he and city council staff members were involved in corrupt activities.
A group of journalists, accompanied by District Coordination Officer Qazi Ayub, who had received complaints about overcharging at a local park on Independence Day, 14 August, went to the site and caught four of Haq’s associates illegally charging for entrance and parking. After filing cases against them, Ayub directed the Station House Office to arrest the four officials. The journalists subsequently reported on these events in their publications.
Haq obtained the release of the four detainees within two hours and later met with District Police Officer Nawaz Warraich to have complaints filed against the journalists, charging that they had taken money from the council staff and interfered in official affairs. Warraich refused to lodge a complaint against journalists without first verifying the facts of the case. Haq then called on a chief minister inspection member, who helped him file a complaint against press club president Rana Sarwar, Azeem Ahmad Yazdani and seven other journalists.
At a meeting held at the local press club, the journalists expressed their disapproval of the municipal administrator’s actions and urged the provincial government to order an inquiry into the incident.
