Case Update Status

Following orders of DPO, Police cancelled FIR against journalist also suspended nominated police official.

Summary of Case

"On 4 July, 2021 Rahim Yar Khan Police reportedly tortured senior journalist and president of Bhong Press Club Mr. Asghar Ali Jaffrey while in custody. Bhong Police, reportedly pressured by local influential, arrested him in a false case.

In a video statement Asghar said that one of his eyes is badly affected due to torture and resulted in the loss of his eyesight. Asghar said that even in the 21st century, journalists are still oppressed in Pakistan because of reporting truth and highlighting wrong doings in society. According to him, local police arrested him in a false case and tortured him in custody all night.

Asghar has been freed and an ASI named Abid who tortured Asghar suspended.

Asghar Ali Jaffrey told PPF that Bhong Police arrested him around 9 PM on July 4, 2021 without any FIR. When Police were carrying Asghar in their van, they stopped Police mobile in a deserted area and tortured Asghar badly due to which his eyesight was affected and police also plucked his nails and then transferred him in Bhong Police Station where the officials registered a false FIR against him on next morning 5-July-21. Asghar further said that these all things happened because he uncovered the corruption of some officials in his news reports for Azad-e-Safar newspaper especially in the recent news report He wrote about local MPA Mr. Nabeel Rais that he illegally occupied government lands and involve in corruption of government run projects. Also, in one of his news report Asghar highlighted the wrongdoings of ASI Abid (Who tortured Asghar along with 4 other policemen). When journalists from all over the district started protesting against the arrest of Asghar and demanded his medical examination, the police got conducted the medical examination at Shaikh Zayed Medical College Hospital (SZMCH) in which the torture was proved. Bhong police also forced him to sign a white paper so that he would not take any step against them but Indhar refused to do so. After the pressure from Media District Police Officer Asad Sarfraz ordered the suspension of ASI Abid who tortured Asghar and cancelled FIR against Asghar also released him.

On July 9, 2021 Resident editor of Azad-e-Safar newspaper Mr. Asghar Gilani told PPF that Asghar ali discussed about the illegal activities of local MPA that He occupied 6.5 Hectare land of government with him. Asghar Gilani suggested him to make a report about it. After they publish report in their newspaper, Manager of MPA Nabeel, Mr. Ejaz Ahmed called Asghar Gilani and threatened him and said “How dare you publish this, you will face consequences” and SHO Ejaz Lara threatened Asghar Ali. They decided that they will not step back as they were doing their duty, then all these things like torture on Asghar Ali and FIR against him happened but all journalists of Rahimyar khan are supporting Asghar Ali, Asghar gilani added.

Investigation officer ASP Sadiqabad told PPF that DPO suspended ASI Abid who were involve on the matter also withdraw FIR against Asghar Ali after investigation of the matter. Now, Case has been closed from Asghar’s end but inquiry about ASI Abid will start soon.

In conversation with PPF President of Rahimyar Khan Press Club Mr. Rao Noman Aslam and President of Sadiqabad press club Mr. Shakeel Ahmed condemned the incident and showed their support with Journalist Asghar Ali.

On July 8, 2021 Punjab Union of Journalists President Qamar Zaman Bhatti and other office-bearers of the union condemned the incident as reprehensible and have asked the Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar to take notice of the matter as police officials, PPP MPA and Wadera Rais Nabeel were active in rescuing the police personnel involved in the incident. They called upon the CM to take action against the police officials.

Local journalists of and the Pakistan Saraiki Party (PSP) members established a hunger strike camp outside the Bhong police station on July 7, 2021 to protest the brutal torture of police on a local journalist.

MPA Rais Nabeel Ahmed told Dawn that Asghar Indhar had interfered in an anti-encroachment operation and threatened the municipal committee team with consequences. The FIR against him was registered by the municipal committee official on charges of interfering in official matters. He said he was not involved in this matter by any means.

Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has strongly condemned police brutality and demanded of the government and the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take notice of the incident. PFUJ President Shehzada Zulfiqar and Secretary-General Nasir Zaidi said that Jeffery was meted out inhuman treatment by police who hit him with sticks, pulling his nails, and brutally torturing him. The two leaders accused the police of not taking the journalist to the local hospital on time that caused his health to deteriorate. His colleagues fear that Jeffery might lose one of his eyes."

Category of Incident

Assault

ICCS Status

ICCS Divisions: 02011- Assault

ICCS Group: 020111- Serious assault

ICCS Class: Assaults and threats

ICCS Crime: Journalism Pakistan

Reported By

Journalism Pakistan

Date of incident

4

Month

July

Year

2021

Name of affected person

Asghar Ali Jeffery

Other affected persons

No other person affected

Name of affected organization

Azad e Safar

Other affected organizations

No other organization affected

Action by

Police

City

Bhong

Province

Punjab

Designation

Reporter

Professional category

Journalist

Age of victim

30

Marital Status

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 ?: Yes

Date of FIR: 07/05/2021

FIR Details: FIR # 178/21

Police station of FIR: Bhong Police Station

Name of complainant: Liaqat Ali Gilani

Name of accused in FIR: Asghar Ali jaffery

Court Details

Was case investigated ?: Yes

Court where case was presented: Case not presented in any court yet.

Name of prosecuting lawyer: Case not presented in any court yet.

Date of first court hearing:

Date of last court hearing:

Status of court case: Case not presented in any court yet.

Journalist Union Status

PFUJ

"Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has strongly condemned police brutality and demanded of the government and the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take notice of the incident. PFUJ President Shehzada Zulfiqar and Secretary-General Nasir Zaidi said that Jeffery was meted out inhuman treatment by police who hit him with sticks, pulling his nails, and brutally torturing him. The two leaders accused the police of not taking the journalist to the local hospital on time that caused his health to deteriorate. His colleagues fear that Jeffery might lose one of his eyes. "

APNS

CPNE

PBA

Media Source Status

Media reports:

Condemn Status

Colleague of victim

"Punjab Union of Journalists President Qamar Zaman Bhatti and other office-bearers of the union condemned the incident as reprehensible and have asked the Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar to take notice of the matter as police officials, PPP MPA and Wadera Rais Nabeel were active in rescuing the police personnel involved in the incident. They called upon the CM to take action against the police officials. Local journalists of and the Pakistan Saraiki Party (PSP) members established a hunger strike camp outside the Bhong police station on July 7, 2021 to protest the brutal torture of police on a local journalist"

Employer organization

Press Club Status

Press club 1: "In conversation with PPF President of Rahimyar Khan Press Club Mr. Rao Noman Aslam and President of Sadiqabad press club Mr. Shakeel Ahmed condemned the incident and showed their support with Journalist Asghar Ali. "

Press club 2:

Press club 3: