(PPF/IFEX) – On 29 August 2006, a journalist based in a rural town in Pakistan’s southern Sindh province was abducted, brutally beaten, stripped and had his moustache and eyebrows shaven off for writing a news report critical of the local town mayor. According to press reports, Umer Soomro, correspondent for “Shaam” daily newspaper in the […]
(PPF/IFEX) – On 29 August 2006, a journalist based in a rural town in Pakistan’s southern Sindh province was abducted, brutally beaten, stripped and had his moustache and eyebrows shaven off for writing a news report critical of the local town mayor.
According to press reports, Umer Soomro, correspondent for “Shaam” daily newspaper in the rural town of Dhoro Naro, was abducted and assaulted by two individuals – Qamar Mangrio and Maula Dad – at the behest of town mayor Ali Bux Mangrio. The local police refused to register a criminal complaint against the abductors.
Mr. Soomro said the mayor was angry when his newspaper published his reports on favouritism in the distribution of relief goods among persons affected by the recent rains. According to Mr. Soomro, the town mayor asked Qamar Mangrio to teach the journalist “a lesson”.
Mr. Soomro criticised the local police and the district administration for not taking action on these acts of violence.
