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

Confirmed

Case 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

Twitter

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

Married

Compensation 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

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