Journalist Irfan Sangi was attacked and tortured by the Karachi Police
FOE Link or motive by PPF
ConfirmedCase 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 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
Irfan Sangi
Other affected persons
Bashir Mirjat
Name of affected organization
Times News
Other affected organizations
Dharti TV
Action by
Karachi Police.
City
Karachi
Province
Sindh
Designation
Cameraperson
Professional category
Journalist
Age of victim
N/A
Marital Status
N/ACompensation 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 ?: Four police officials suspended; inquiry launched.
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:
"https://www.dawn.com/news/1846785/police-break-up-protest-calling-for-recovery-of-priya-kumari\ https://youtu.be/JIjBoyE4jdI?si=BJkU1wepdNlCbkMU - https://www.nation.com.pk/22-Jul-2024/4-policemen-suspended-for-misbehaving-with-journalists-in- priya-kumari-case https://www.dawn.com/news/amp/1846889 "Condemn Status
Colleague of victim
No version was recorded
Employer organization
"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. "
Press Club Status
Press club 1: N/A
Press club 2: N/A
Press club 3: N/A