ARY News reporter Hassan Hafez was verbally attacked by Lahore’s CCPO Bilal Siddiqui allegedly for questioning the role of police during a riot.
FOE Link or motive by PPF
ConfirmedCase Update Status
FIR was not registered
Summary of Case
"On July 19, ARY News reporter Hassan Hafez was verbally attacked by Lahore’s CCPO Bilal Siddiqui allegedly for questioning the role of police during a riot. Speaking to PPF, Hafez said that he was covering by-polls in the PP-168 constituency in Lahore when he noticed some clashes between workers of various political parties such as the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf. According to reports, voting was halted at some polling stations in the constituency amidst clashes between various political parties. Hafez said that police and the Dolphin Force were present at the site but were unable to handle the situation till Pakistan Rangers arrived. When CCPO Siddiqui visited the polling station later in the day, Hafez had questioned him about why the police were unable to do anything despite polling being stopped for hours. In response the CCPO asked Hafez how he dared to say this and demanded an apology from the journalist. As per Hafez, Siddiqui also ordered a constable to take the journalist inside, adding that he “wants to harass him”. At the end of the same media talk, the CCPO asked the reporter what media organization he belonged to and when he said ARY News, the police official said that he expected this from that network and abused Hafez. A package of the incident was aired by ARY News however no further action was taken. Lahore Press Club president Azam Chaudhry has demanded further action against the CCPO and said that such actions must be stopped. “No one can stop the voice of the press,” he said."
Category of Incident
Threat
ICCS Status
ICCS Divisions: 0803-Acts related to freedom of expression or control of expression
ICCS Group: 08039-Other acts related to freedom of expression or control of expression
ICCS Class: N/A
ICCS Crime: Acts related to freedom of expression or control of expression
Reported By
Date of incident
19
Month
July
Year
2022
Name of affected person
Hassan Hafez
Other affected persons
No other person was affected
Name of affected organization
ARY News
Other affected organizations
No other Organization affected
Action by
CCPO Lahore
City
Lahore
Province
Punjab
Designation
Reporter
Professional category
Journalist
Age of victim
35
Marital Status
MarriedCompensation Details
Amount of compensation announced by government: No compensation announced
Date of compensation announcement by government: No compensation announced
Date of compensation paid by government: No compensation announced
Amount of compensation announced by others: No compensation announced
Date of compensation announced by others: No compensation announced
Date compensation paid by others: No compensation announced
FIR Details
Was FIR registered ?: No
Court Details
Was case investigated ?: FIR not registered
Court where case was presented: FIR not registered
Name of prosecuting lawyer: FIR not registered
Date of first court hearing:
Date of last court hearing:
Status of court case: FIR not registered
Journalist Union Status
PFUJ
Not required to contact
APNS
N/A
CPNE
N/A
PBA
N/A
Media Source Status
Media reports:
https://www.fnpk.org/two-journalists-murdered-three-others-escape-attacks-on-life/Condemn Status
Colleague of victim
Not required to contact
Employer organization
Not required to contact
Press Club Status
Press club 1: Not required to contact
Press club 2: N/A
Press club 3: N/A