Case Update Status

Responsible police constables and SHO were suspended.

Summary of Case

On 28 May, 2021, The Mirpur Mathello Police have tortured journalists, who were allegedly reporting about the police’s private torture cells. Later, the journalists staged a sit-in in front of the SSP office, Ghotki.

Reports said the police allegedly tortured the journalists, identified as Latif Veesar reporter of Awaz TV, Barkat Mirani reporter of Times News and Khalid Veesar cameraman of Awaz TV from Mirpur Mathello, when they were trying to report the private torture cells operated by the Ghotki Police.

The victims alleged that a police party tortured and left them at an abandoned place in injured condition.

Later, the injured journalists were shifted to DHQ Hospital Mirpur Mathello for medical assistance. Meanwhile, the journalists staged a sit-in in front of the SSP Ghotki office, in support of their colleagues against the police’s brutal torture.

SSP Ghotki Umar Tufail negotiated with the protesters and arrested the policeman who allegedly tortured the journalists. He also suspended the SHO Khalid Memon. The journalists finally ended their protest after an assurance by SSP Ghotki to probe the incident.

Barkat Mirani told PPF that we three journalists including me, reporter of Awaz TV Latif Veesar and cameraman of Awaz TV Khalid Veesar went to baraf Kharkhana road for the coverage of private torture cell made by police where police use to imprison the culprits and beat them badly.

When the journalists made footages for report, police constables assaulted journalists badly, the officials also took mobile phones of journalists and deleted the videos from cellphones, Barkat told PPf.

Barkar further added that the officials left him and took other journalists Latif Veesar and his cameraman Khalid Veesar with them. They beat Latif Veesar badly and after beating him they left him Mirpur Mathello National Shahrah from where fellow journalists took them to hospital.

DIG Fida Mastoi suspended the constables involved in the incident as well as asked SHO Khalid Memon to report in central Police office Karachi but still police is not filing FIR regarding the case, Barkat added.

Latif Veesar told PPF that they were reporting the private torture cell of police when police beat us badly beat me. They protested outside the SP office to get the justice and for the fair inquiry of the case.

Editor of Times News Mr. Ali Qazi & Director News of Awaz TV Mr. Abdul Razzak told PPF that we strongly condemn the incident.

President of Mirpur Mathello Press Club Saqib Gadhani & General Secretary of Sukkur Press Club Shail Jogi told PPF that journalist were on the line of duty when they were attacked by police as they were covering the illegal and private torture cell made by Mirpur Mathello Police.

Category of Incident

Assault

ICCS Status

ICCS Divisions: 0201- Assaults and threats

ICCS Group: 02011- Assault

ICCS Class: 020111- Serious assault

ICCS Crime: Assaults and threats

Reported By

The

Date of incident

28

Month

May

Year

2021

Name of affected person

Barkat Mirani

Other affected persons

Latif Veesar, Khalid Veesar

Name of affected organization

Awaz TV

Other affected organizations

Times News

Action by

Police

City

Ghotki

Province

Sindh

Designation

Reporter, Cameraman

Professional category

Journalists

Age of victim

N/A

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 ?: No

Court Details

Was case investigated ?: FIR was not registered

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

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

Date of first court hearing:

Date of last court hearing:

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

Journalist Union Status

PFUJ

N/A

APNS

CPNE

PBA

Media Source Status

Media reports:

Condemn Status

Colleague of victim

Latif Veesar, colleague of Barkat told PPF that they were reporting the private torture cell of police when police beat us badly beat me. They protested outside the SP office to get the justice and for the fair inquiry of the case.

Employer organization

Editor of Times News Mr. Ali Qazi & Director News of Awaz TV Mr. Abdul Razzak strongly condemn the incident.

Press Club Status

Press club 1: President of Mirpur Mathello Press Club Saqib Gadhani & General Secretary of Sukkur Press Club Shail Jogi told PPF that journalist were on the line of duty when they were attacked by police as they were covering the illegal and private torture cell made by Mirpur Mathello Police.

Press club 2:

Press club 3: