Case Update Status

Four police officials suspended; inquiry launched

Summary of Case

On July 19, Time News cameraperson Irfan Sangi and Dharti TV reporter Bashir Mirjat were attacked and tortured by the Karachi Police when they were covering and taking footage of the protest held at Teen Talwar, Karachi, for a young girl Priya Kumari who went missing at the day of Ashura, three years ago. Recalling the incident, Dharti TV reporter Mirjat, while speaking to PPF on July 20, said that along with a Times News cameraperson he was covering the protest when police intervened in their “professional work.” Mirjat said that the police pushed him into the crowd, charged batons at him, and ripped his clothes. As a result of this, they argued that they were using their Constitutional right and the police could not infringe on it by halting their work. However, he stated that the police then charged batons on them. He added that Inspector General South Karachi Ghulam Nabi Memon had ensured them that he would take legal action against the police officials involved in the incident. Mirjat stated that no action had been taken yet, and no police officials had yet been suspended as ordered by Sindh Interior Minister Zia ul Hassan Lanjar. Media officials held a protest in support of Mirjat and Sangi, during which Additional Superintendent of Police South Karachi Javed Alam Odho assured that they would investigate the matter as per the law. According to Mirjat, there has been no response yet. On July 20, 2024, Dharti TV Managing Director GM Jamali told PPF that his organization had condemned the matter. He said that the police tortured his colleague which was “intolerable.” He said that the Karachi Union of Journalists and the Karachi Press Club had supported them. Speaking to PPF on July 20, Times News reporter Nazeer Ahmed Memon told PPF that Sangi was a “short-tempered and emotional person” because he was young and fresh in the field. According to Memom, a colleague of Sangi’s, he argued with the police when they stopped him from covering the protest and taking exclusive footage. He added that a Dharti TV reporter was also affected and his clothes were ripped by the police in the skirmish. Memon said that no First Information Report (FIR) was lodged. However, he added that the media had protested the violence of the Karachi Police. According to Memon, Superintendent of Police, Clifton, Aziz Ahmed was attacked during the protest. The police officials then tried to control the public and used batons on them. In this process, some media officials including Sangi and Mirjat were also attacked."

Category of Incident

Assault

ICCS Status

ICCS Divisions: 0201-Assaults and threats

ICCS Group: 02011 -Assault

ICCS Class: 020112- Minor assault

ICCS Crime: Assault

Reported By

Dawn, The Nation

Date of incident

19

Month

July

Year

2024

Name of affected person

Bashir Mirjat

Other affected persons

Irfan Sangi

Name of affected organization

Dharti TV

Other affected organizations

Times News

Action by

Karachi Police.

City

Karachi

Province

Sindh

Designation

Reporter

Professional category

Journalist

Age of victim

N/A

Marital Status

Compensation Details

Amount of compensation announced by government: No compensation was annouced

Date of compensation announcement by government: N/A

Date of compensation paid by government: N/A

Amount of compensation announced by others: N/A

Date of compensation announced by others: N/A

Date compensation paid by others: N/A

FIR Details

Was FIR registered ?: No

Court Details

Was case investigated ?: The case was not presented before the court

Court where case was presented: N/A

Name of prosecuting lawyer: N/A

Date of first court hearing:

Date of last court hearing:

Status of court case: N/A

Journalist Union Status

PFUJ

N/A

APNS

N/A

CPNE

N/A

PBA

N/A

Media Source Status

Media reports:

Condemn Status

Colleague of victim

No version was recorded

Employer organization

Speaking to PPF on July 20, Times News reporter Nazeer Ahmed Memon told PPF that Sangi was a “short-tempered and emotional person” because he was young and fresh in the field. According to Memom, a colleague of Sangi’s, he argued with the police when they stopped him from covering the protest and taking exclusive footage. He added that a Dharti TV reporter was also affected and his clothes were ripped by the police in the skirmish. Memon said that no First Information Report (FIR) was lodged. However, he added that the media had protested the violence of the Karachi Police.

Press Club Status

Press club 1: N/A

Press club 2: N/A

Press club 3: N/A