Case Update Status

FIR was not registered, Matter was resolved by verbal apology in presence of Police.

Summary of Case

"On 27 June, 2021 The female reporter of 24 NewsHD TV channel Ms. Sameen Nawaz was harassed by the administration of Karachi Expo Centre while the garments of her cameraman were also torn by the administration, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Reportedly, a team of 24NewsHD TV channel went to the vaccination centre set up at Karachi Expo Centre on Sunday for the news coverage. But the administration over there showed a very hostile attitude towards the 24News team. Dr Aneela even thrashed 24News reporter Ms Sameen.

The doctors and scouts were not letting 24News team filming the vaccine campaign at the centre. The Expo Centre administration misbehaved with the 24News reporter and did not let her leave her place. Even Dr Aneela beat her up.

The administration snatched the mobile phone and camera from the 24News team. Scouts tore the shirt of 24News cameraman. 24NewsHD TV strongly condemned the incident of harassing its staff.

Later, Dr Aneela who manhandled 24News reporter Ms Sameen extended her apology. She said she felt sorry over what had happened. This incident should not have happened in the first place, Dr Aneela regretted. She said this incident would be probed and action would also be taken against the scouts who were involved in rough-handedness.

Dr Aneela said that 24News reporter Ms Sameen was meted out such treatment because she and her cameraman entered the Expo Centre without permission and nobody guided them that they were not allowed without permission.

Another lady doctor at Expo Centre told News24 that Dr Aneela had already manhandled a male doctor.

PTI MPA in Sindh Assembly Halim Adil Sheikh condemned the incident saying that Dr Aneela’s behaviour did not behove a doctor.

However, Dr Aneela assured that in future such an incident would never be repeated.

On 28th June, 2021 Ms. Sameen told PPF that she and her cameraman Asif Shafiq went to Expo Centre Karachi for the regular coverage of Covid Vaccination, They had no idea about the restrictions of coverage as no notice were issued regarding it. When they reached at Expo Centre, They were in DSNG of 24 News. Security officers allowed them to enter from main gate, they did not faced any restriction till hall no 4. The Scouts present in Hall no 4 told them that the cameras are not allowed in the centre for any type of coverage you have to take permission from Dr. Aneela. Sameen, the incharge of the centre. Following the instructions of the scouts cameraman Asif stopped there and Sameen went to Dr. Aneela’s room for coordination. According to Sameen, Dr. Aneela refused to give permission of coverage and said that they need permission letter of Secretary Health officer. When sameen came out from Aneela’s room the staff of the Expo Centre were misbehaving with her cameraman, and torn the garments of cameraman, they deleted all data from camera even after cameraman asked them to first check it. Cameraman was making footage even it is not allowed, the staff claimed. The administration of Expo Centre detained Sameen and cameraman in a vaccination cubicle. Sameen called police helpline, when police reached their staff of the centre showed like nothing happened and the matter has been resolved. SHO Mr. forced Sameen to resolve the matter by verbal apology. Sameen said no one registered their application and Dr. Aneela apologized her verbally. However, 24 News officials cooperated with her.

Bureau Chief of 24 News Mr. Asif Ali Jafri told PPF that it was there practice from 3 months to cover the vaccination centres. On 27th June the team of 24 News went to Expo Centre for genera coverage like what is the vaccination status, what type of vaccinations are available there. No official guidelines were issued by the administration regarding coverage. 24NewsHD TV strongly condemned the incident of harassing its staff. The administration of 24 News is with their team, after the news of the incident on aired they pressurize the authorities until Dr. Aneela apologized.

SHO of Aziz Bhatti Police Station Mr. Parvez Solangi told PPF that police fully cooperated with the team of 24 News and reached the place of incident after Ms. Sameen called the area police. Police resolved the matter by verbal apology of Dr. Aneela in the presence of Administration members of Expo Centre and team of 24 News at Expo Centre where the incident happened. No application or FIR was registered."

Category of Incident

Harassment

ICCS Status

ICCS Divisions: "0208 - Acts intended to induce fear or emotional distress"

ICCS Group: "02081 - Harassment"

ICCS Class: N/A

ICCS Crime: "Acts intended to induce fear or emotional distress"

Reported By

24 News

Date of incident

27

Month

June

Year

2021

Name of affected person

Sameen Nawaz

Other affected persons

Asif Shafiq

Name of affected organization

24 News

Other affected organizations

No other organization affected

Action by

Administration of Covid Vaccination Centre at Expo Centre Karachi

City

Karachi

Province

Sindh

Designation

Reporter

Professional category

Journalist

Age of victim

Denied to share the information

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 ?: No FIR registered

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

N/A

APNS

CPNE

PBA

Media Source Status

Media reports:

Condemn Status

Colleague of victim

N/A

Employer organization

"Bureau Chief of 24 News Mr. Asif Ali Jafri told PPF that it was there practice from 3 months to cover the vaccination centres. On 27th June the team of 24 News went to Expo Centre for genera coverage like what is the vaccination status, what type of vaccinations are available there. No official guidelines were issued by the administration regarding coverage. 24NewsHD TV strongly condemned the incident of harassing its staff. The administration of 24 News is with their team, after the news of the incident on aired they pressurize the authorities until Dr. Aneela apologized. "

Press Club Status

Press club 1: N/A

Press club 2:

Press club 3: