Case Update Status

The case was compromised

Summary of Case

On June 11, 2024, a reporter of 24 News, Sardar Liaquat Khan, was detained, abused, and threatened in Rawat, Rawalpindi in the Punjab province by a reporter of the daily Naya Mahaz newspaper Malik Abid Hussain, the petrol mafia Ibrar Hussain, and four others in retaliation for a story he had written against them for storing cured oil and selling expensive Iranian petrol, published on June 11 in Bolta Pakistan Newspaper. On July 18, 2024, speaking to PPF, Liaquat Khan said that he had broken a story, published in Bolta Pakistan against the petrol mafia, who allegedly stock Iranian petrol vended at expensive rates and keep crude oil for sale. Khan stated that they practice this illegal work in Rawat and Multan. He said that when the story was published, his colleague, a reporter of the daily Naya Mahaz newspaper Malik Abid Hussain, warned him not to report on news regarding the illegal activity of the accused. Later, he took him to the shop of the accused for compromise, and when he went there, they shut down the shutter of the shop and illegally detained him for hours. Khan said they abused and threatened him and recorded a video of it as well. Khan said that the accused were six men including his colleague Malik Abid and a member of the petrol mafia, Ibrar. However, he said that four other men were unknown to him. Khan shared that the accused also sent him threatening WhatsApp voice notes and warned him to stop reporting their illegal activities. Khan said that later, he approached the Rawat Police Station and requested the Assistant Sub-Inspector, Muhammad Ikram, to lodge an FIR against the matter. However, he said that the police did not entertain his complaint. Khan also shared a copy of the receipt of the complaint. In response to a question of PPF, he said that he did not reach out to the concerned magistrate for lodging the complaint and was waiting for the response of police. The complaint filed before the Station House Officer Sajjad ul Hussain at Kallar Syedan Police Station, detailed the incident that happened with Khan. It was written in the transcript that Khan was a reporter for the daily Bolta Pakistan, and that on June 11, 2024, he had broken a story about the petrol mafia, who stock Iranian petrol vended at expensive rates, and keep crude oil for sale. It was written in the complaint that later, a person Abid Hussain called Khan and requested a meeting at the shop of Ibrar Hussain in Rawat for reconciliation. It was stated that on the same day, June 11, they all had an encounter near the dera of Ibrar Hussain at Chan’ni Pul’ Rawat. Khan claimed in the complaint that there were five to six unknown persons including Abid Hussain (who had called Khan) and Ibrar Hussain the owner of the petrol supply. They took him to the shop of Ibrar Hussain and abruptly shut down the shutter of the shop and detained Khan for about three hours. He said that they positioned arms over Khan, the owner of the shop, Ibrar Hussain, abused him, removed his shirt and, innerwear, and was about to remove Khan’s trousers however, Abid Hussain halted them and said that the act could be a major offense under the law and then they recorded a video of Khan. It was also claimed that Khan was assaulted and threatened by the accused and he prayed for the protection of his life and dignity. On July 19, the editor-in-chief of Daily Bolta Pakistan Sardar Fiaz said that the victim was associated with 24 News, not with Daily Bolta Pakistan. He also stated that it is now common practice of the news agencies that without obtaining permission and approval from the executive body of the organization and without the accuracy check, the printing staff share and publish news in the paper. Faiz said that he has no in-depth idea of the case however, he said that this is the big question mark of why the press, unions, and other association journalists support the victim in such a matter. On July 20, speaking to PPF, crime reporter 24 News Farzana Siddiq confirmed that no person named Sardar Liaquat Khas had been associated with 24 News from Rawalpindi station. However, the victim said that he is the reporter of both 24 News and Bolta Pakistan. On July 20, speaking to PPF, Investigation Officer Ikram Riaz, said that the matter had resulted in a compromise five days ago between the reporter and petrol mafia, however the police were investigating the matter. He alleged that an FIR was lodged under Section 285 and 286 of the Pakistan Penal Code however, he did not share the FIR. On July 30 speaking to PPF Assistant Sub-inspector Umar said that no FIR was lodged for the matter however it was compromised on a paper with signature. Further, on the question of PPF, he endorsed that ASI-Ikram Riaz was

Category of Incident

Detention

ICCS Status

ICCS Divisions: 0201-Assaults and threats

ICCS Group: 02011 -Assault

ICCS Class: 020112- Minor assault

ICCS Crime: Assault

Reported By

PPF Safety Monitor Group

Date of incident

11

Month

June

Year

2024

Name of affected person

Sardar Liaquat Khan

Other affected persons

No

Name of affected organization

24 News

Other affected organizations

Action by

Daily Bolta Pakistan

City

Rawalpindi

Province

Punjab

Designation

Reporter

Professional category

Journalists

Age of victim

N/K

Marital Status

Compensation Details

Amount of compensation announced by government: No compensation was announced

Date of compensation announcement by government: No compensation was announced

Date of compensation paid by government: No compensation was announced

Amount of compensation announced by others: No compensation was announced

Date of compensation announced by others: No compensation was announced

Date compensation paid by others: No compensation was announced

FIR Details

Was FIR registered ?: No

Court Details

Was case investigated ?: No

Court where case was presented: Court was not presented in any court

Name of prosecuting lawyer: Court was not presented in any court

Date of first court hearing:

Date of last court hearing:

Status of court case: Court was not presented in any court

Journalist Union Status

PFUJ

Not condemned

APNS

Not condemned

CPNE

Not condemned

PBA

Not condemned

Media Source Status

Media reports:

Condemn Status

Colleague of victim

Not condemned

Employer organization

Not condemned

Press Club Status

Press club 1: No version was recorded

Press club 2: No version was recorded

Press club 3: No version was recorded