Case Update Status

The matter is under probe, and six individuals have been arrested and under police remand.

Summary of Case

Such TV reporter, Muhammad Farooq Chaudhry, was assaulted on November 16 by a land-grabbing group in Iqbalabad, Rahim Yar Khan, while he was covering a dispute involving a widow’s inherited land. Chaudhry sustained a broken tooth and severe lip injuries after one of the alleged attackers punched him in the mouth. According to information received by PPF through President Rahim Yar Khan Bilal Habib, Chaudhry had reached Iqbalabad to report on a confrontation between a widow and her two brothers, who were attempting to prevent her from harvesting crops on land that had already been handed over to her by the district administration following a court ruling. Video footage shared on My Point shows Chaudhry being assaulted while recording the incident. One of the men involved falsely claimed to be a journalist associated with Dunya News, but fled when confronted by the elders present at the scene. Despite bleeding and being visibly injured, Chaudhry continued questioning the attackers and documenting the incident. FIR No. 1203/25 lodged at Iqbalabad Police Station states that the accused, identified as Muhammad Nadeem, Irfan Ali, Mohsin Naveed, Aaqoom Arain, Muhammad Khalil, and several unidentified individuals —attacked Farooq when he arrived to cover the story. According to the FIR, Nadeem fired a pistol shot at Farooq, after which the group beat him and snatched his mobile phone, an iPhone 16 Pro Max. The case was registered under Sections 341, 506, 379, 337H (2), 148, and 149 of the Pakistan Penal Code. ASI Muhammad Akram confirmed to PPF that Chaudhry sustained mouth and oral injuries, adding that the medical report had been secured and the accused were currently on police remand. Farooq, speaking to PPF, shared that he went to the site after receiving information about a land dispute involving a widow and her two brothers. The matter had previously been settled by the district administration after a warrant of possession approved in September 2023 was executed in July 2025. On November 16, when the widow and her sons went to harvest their crops, her brothers allegedly attempted to stop them, triggering the altercation. Chaudhry said he intervened only to record the incident. Chaudhry told PPF that he later received a call from the office of the District Police Officer, informing him that the investigation had begun on the instructions of the Chief Minister of Punjab and that six of the accused individuals had been arrested. President of the Rahim Yar Khan Union of Journalists, Bilal Habib, described the assault as an unjustified act of violence against a journalist performing his duty. Head of Such TV and President of the Pakistan Media Council, Hameed Anwar, said he had sent Chaudhry to cover the widow’s request for media support and noted that the attacker who claimed to be a journalist had no known affiliation with any media outlet. He expressed concern over the increasing number of individuals falsely posing as journalists to influence or obstruct reporting. Malik Zaheer, Secretary General of the District Press Club, Rahim Yar Khan, also condemned the attack and affirmed that Chaudhry is a professional journalist with credible affiliations, alleging that the attacker was linked to land grabbers.

Category of Incident

Assault

ICCS Status

ICCS Divisions: Assault- 0201

ICCS Group: Assault- 02011

ICCS Class: Assault- 020111

ICCS Crime: Assault

Reported By

Nil

Date of incident

16

Month

November

Year

2025

Name of affected person

Muhammad Farooq Chaudhry

Other affected persons

N/A

Name of affected organization

Such TV

Other affected organizations

My Point

Action by

Landgrabbers

City

Rahim Yar Khan

Province

Punjab

Designation

Reporter

Professional category

Journalists

Age of victim

N/A

Marital Status

Compensation Details

Amount of compensation announced by government: No compensation was announced

Date of compensation announcement by government: No compensation was announced

Date of compensation paid by government: No compensation was announced

Amount of compensation announced by others: No compensation was announced

Date of compensation announced by others: No compensation was announced

Date compensation paid by others: No compensation was announced

FIR Details

Was FIR registered ?: Yes

Date of FIR:

FIR Details: FIR #1203/25 was lodged at Iqbalabad Police Station on November 16, 2025, on the complaint of Muhammad Farooq, a journalist, against Muhammad Nadeem, Irfan Ali, Mohsin Naveed, Aaqoom Arain, Muhammad Khalil, and 6-7 unknown individuals. The complainant alleged that he received information about a land-grabbing incident in Mouza Mahmoodabad, involving a widow's land. When he arrived at the scene, the accused, who were armed, attacked him, and one of them, Muhammad Nadeem, fired a pistol at him. The complainant was beaten, and his mobile phone (iPhone 16 Pro Max) was taken by the accused. The incident occurred due to the complainant's attempt to cover the story, and the accused were trying to prevent him from doing so. The case was registered under Sections 341, 506, 379, 337H(2), 148, and 149 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Police station of FIR: Iqbalabad Police Station

Name of complainant: Muhammad Farooq

Name of accused in FIR: Muhammad Nadeem, Irfan Ali, Mohsin Naveed, Aaqoom Arain, Muhammad Khalil, and 6-7 unknown individuals

Court Details

Was case investigated ?: Under probe

Court where case was presented: Not yet presented in court

Name of prosecuting lawyer: Not yet presented in court

Date of first court hearing:

Date of last court hearing:

Status of court case: N/A

Journalist Union Status

PFUJ

Not condemned

APNS

Not condemned

CPNE

Not condemned

PBA

Not condemned

Media Source Status

Media reports:

Condemn Status

Colleague of victim

Speaking to PPF, Bilal Habib, President of the Rahim Yar Khan Union of Journalists, condemned the attack on Farooq Chaudhry, stating that Chaudhry was simply covering a story and was subjected to unjustified torture.

Employer organization

Head of Such TV and President of the Pakistan Media Council, Hameed Anwar, said he had sent Chaudhry to cover the widow’s request for media support and noted that the attacker who claimed to be a journalist had no known affiliation with any media outlet. He expressed concern over the increasing number of individuals falsely posing as journalists to influence or obstruct reporting.

Press Club Status

Press club 1: Malik Zaheer, Secretary General of the District Press Club, Rahim Yar Khan, also condemned the attack and affirmed that Chaudhry is a professional journalist with credible affiliations, alleging that the attacker was linked to land grabbers.

Press club 2: No version was recorded

Press club 3: No version was recorded