(PPF/IFEX) – On 6 November 1998, a sports reporter from the daily “Dawn”, Sami-ul Hasan, was repeatedly manhandled, beaten and assaulted when he tried to confirm a complaint of “entry denied” to bona-fide ticket holders of a cricket match from the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP). When Hassan approached DSP Nazir Mirbahar, the officer said […]
(PPF/IFEX) – On 6 November 1998, a sports reporter from the daily “Dawn”,
Sami-ul Hasan, was repeatedly manhandled, beaten and assaulted when he tried
to confirm a complaint of “entry denied” to bona-fide ticket holders of a
cricket match from the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP).
When Hassan approached DSP Nazir Mirbahar, the officer said “the orders have
come from the top and we are following them – you better mind your own
business.” When pressed further as to why bona fide ticket-holders were
barred from entering the National Stadium to watch a cricket match, he
started abusing the reporter and later asked his men to throw him out of the
stadium. The reporter was manhandled and beaten up on the order of Mirbahar,
who was heard shouting “attack him and beat him to death,” as a result of
which the reporter suffered injuries to his head and other parts of his
body.
He was assaulted again when some police officials intervened to bring the
reporter back into the stadium. He lost his mobile phone, wrist watch and
gold chain in the scuffle.
The press corps covering the match were shocked; they lodged a protest and
staged a sit-in before the main pavilion. The incident was brought to the
attention of Governor Moinuddin Haider, who was there as chief guest. On the
insistence of the press corps, the governor ordered that a First Information
Report (FIR) against the policemen involved as well as against DSP Mirbahar
be lodged and also ordered an inquiry into the matter.
However, as soon as the governor went to his box, members of the local
administration attacked the protesting journalists and refused to let them go
back to the press box. The commissioner of Karachi who promised to take
stern action against Mr. Mirbahar escorted journalists back to the press
box.
The journalists Action Committee led by Amin Yousuf, Ehsan Qureshi and Mirza
lqbal Baig demanded immediate action against the DSP. The Karachi Union of
Journalists and the Karachi Union of Journalists (Dasturi Group) have also
condemned the brutal act of police and demanded the suspension of the
accused DSP and his unit.
Sindh Governor Haider has directed the divisional commissioner to hold an
inquiry into the incident that occurred at the National Stadium involving
the “Dawn” sports reporter and DSP Mirbahar. The commissioner has nominated
Deputy Commissioner-East Khusro Perwaiz to investigate the incident, get a
medical check up of the reporter and report to him for necessary action.
