Case Update Status

Matter is under probe.

Summary of Case

On July 16, some unidentified attackers in a white Vigo Hilux vehicle pelted stones at Daily Ibrat's Karachi office in PECHS, breaking windows and causing damage. The reason behind the action is unknown. Daily Ibrat reported the incident that occurred with the Karachi office in the early hours of the morning on July 16. As per the report, the attackers, who arrived in a white Vigo Hilux vehicle, pelted stones at the office, breaking the windows of the main gate and causing damage to the property. The incident occurred at the newspaper's bureau office in PECHS. Upon receiving information about the attack, the Firozabad police rushed to the scene and initiated an investigation. Station House Officer Inam Junejo obtained details about the incident and began probing the matter. The police are currently searching for the white Vigo vehicle used by the attackers. The report suggested that the attack had been strongly condemned by prominent figures, including PPP Sindh President Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, who contacted Daily Ibrat's Chief Editor Qazi Asad Abid and assured him that the attackers would be arrested and brought to justice. Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) Information Secretary Sardar Abdul Rahim also condemned the attack, contacting Daily Ibrat's reporter Rahab Gahu and demanding immediate action against the perpetrators. He described the attack as a failed attempt to suppress the voice of truth and justice, and called for enhanced security measures for media houses and journalists. Speaking to PPF on July 18, Rahib Gahu, Executive Editor and Senior Reporter of Daily Ibrat, stated that the office was attacked around 8-9 am. The attackers, who arrived in a white Vigo Hilux, smashed the office doors and windows with stones. Nearby shopkeepers informed him about the incident. Gahu went to the scene, covered the incident himself, and informed the Firozabad Police. However, no FIR has been filed yet, and the police are looking for the accused. Gahu said the reason behind the attack is still unknown and will only be revealed after the investigation. He clarified that Daily Ibrat wasn't working on any project that could have triggered the attack, nor does its owner, Qazi Asad Abid, have any personal enmity with anyone. The Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) condemned the attack, stone-pelting, and property damage at the Karachi office of Ibrat. In a joint statement, the CPNE President and Secretary General emphasized that such assaults on media outlets constitute a direct threat to press freedom, which is utterly unacceptable. They stressed that targeting media institutions and journalists not only contravenes the constitutional guarantee of freedom of expression but also undermines democratic principles. The CPNE demanded that the Sindh government and law enforcement agencies promptly apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice. Daily Independent suggested that Governor Sindh Kamran Khan Tessori strongly denounced the attack on the Daily Ibrat office in Karachi, describing it as a serious threat to press freedom. He stated that any assault on the media is, in essence, an attack on the truth and the voices of the people. Governor Tessori emphasized that all conspiracies aimed at undermining press freedom will be foiled. According to the Daily Independent, he has instructed the relevant authorities to promptly apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice. He underscored that protecting journalists and media institutions is the government's top priority. Governor Tessori made it clear that such incidents are deliberate attempts to stifle press freedom, but the government will utilize all available resources to safeguard the right to free expression. According to Sabah President Milli Yakjehti Council Sindh and former MNA Molana Asadullah Bhutto, along with General Secretary Allama Qazi Ahmad Noorani and Information Secretary Mujahid Channa, vehemently condemned the attack and vandalism at Daily Ibrat's Karachi office. They urged the Sindh government to take immediate action, arrest the perpetrators, and bring them to justice. Molana Asadullah Bhutto stated that the attack on Daily Ibrat is an assault on the entire journalistic community and an attempt to silence the voice of truth and justice. He called on the government to take effective measures to ensure the security of media houses and journalists. Mujahid Channa contacted Daily Ibrat's representative Rahib Gaho to gather details about the incident, condemned the vandalism, and assured the newspaper of his full support. As per the report of Business Recorder, All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) strongly condemned the cowardly attack on the Karachi office of Daily Ibrat, terming it a grave threat to media freedom. In a press release, APNS President Sarmad Ali and Secretary General Muhammad Athar Kazi expressed deep concern over the incident, describing it as a brutal assault on freedom of expression and the public's right to information. They asserted that the media will continue to report news without fear, despite attempts to intimidate them. The APNS called on civil society, human rights organizations, and democratic forces to condemn the violence against the media. They also urged the Sindh government to provide full security and protection to media establishments and personnel, and to take action against those responsible for the attack. Journalists from Sukkur and surrounding cities, including Ghotki, Khairpur, and Shikarpur, strongly condemned the attack on the Karachi office of Daily Ibrat, terming it an assault on free journalism. In a joint statement, Sukkur Press Club and Sukkur Union of Journalists leaders, including Asif Zaheer Lodhi, Imdad Buzdar, Lala Shahbaz Khan Pathan, Saleem Shato, Javed Jatoi, and Kamran Shaikh, demanded the immediate arrest of the accused and severe punishment. They asserted that attacks on media outlets are unacceptable and undermine press freedom. Senior journalists Khalid Banban, Shaukat Rahi, Riaz Rajput, Jalaluddin Bhiyo, Yar Muhammad Soomro, and others also condemned the incident, calling for action against the perpetrators.

Category of Incident

Attack on Property

ICCS Status

ICCS Divisions: N/A

ICCS Group: N/A

ICCS Class: N/A

ICCS Crime: N/A

Reported By

Daily Ibrat

Date of incident

16

Month

July

Year

2025

Name of affected person

Qazi Asad Abid

Other affected persons

N/A

Name of affected organization

Daily Ibrat

Other affected organizations

N/A

Action by

Unknown individuals

City

Karachi

Province

Sindh

Designation

CEO

Professional category

Journalist

Age of victim

N/A

Marital Status

Compensation Details

Amount of compensation announced by government: N/A

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 ?: Under probe

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

No version was recorded

APNS

As per the report of Business Recorder, All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) strongly condemned the cowardly attack on the Karachi office of Daily Ibrat, terming it a grave threat to media freedom. In a press release, APNS President Sarmad Ali and Secretary General Muhammad Athar Kazi expressed deep concern over the incident, describing it as a brutal assault on freedom of expression and the public's right to information. They asserted that the media will continue to report news without fear, despite attempts to intimidate them. The APNS called on civil society, human rights organizations, and democratic forces to condemn the violence against the media. They also urged the Sindh government to provide full security and protection to media establishments and personnel, and to take action against those responsible for the attack.

CPNE

The Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) condemned the attack, stone-pelting, and property damage at the Karachi office of Ibrat. In a joint statement, the CPNE President and Secretary General emphasized that such assaults on media outlets constitute a direct threat to press freedom, which is utterly unacceptable. They stressed that targeting media institutions and journalists not only contravenes the constitutional guarantee of freedom of expression but also undermines democratic principles. The CPNE demanded that the Sindh government and law enforcement agencies promptly apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

PBA

No version was recorded

Media Source Status

Media reports:

Condemn Status

Colleague of victim

No version was recorded

Employer organization

No version was recorded

Press Club Status

Press club 1: According to Sabah President Milli Yakjehti Council Sindh and former MNA Molana Asadullah Bhutto, along with General Secretary Allama Qazi Ahmad Noorani and Information Secretary Mujahid Channa, vehemently condemned the attack and vandalism at Daily Ibrat's Karachi office. They urged the Sindh government to take immediate action, arrest the perpetrators, and bring them to justice. Molana Asadullah Bhutto stated that the attack on Daily Ibrat is an assault on the entire journalistic community and an attempt to silence the voice of truth and justice. He called on the government to take effective measures to ensure the security of media houses and journalists.

Press club 2: Journalists from Sukkur and surrounding cities, including Ghotki, Khairpur, and Shikarpur, strongly condemned the attack on the Karachi office of Daily Ibrat, terming it an assault on free journalism. In a joint statement, Sukkur Press Club and Sukkur Union of Journalists leaders, including Asif Zaheer Lodhi, Imdad Buzdar, Lala Shahbaz Khan Pathan, Saleem Shato, Javed Jatoi, and Kamran Shaikh, demanded the immediate arrest of the accused and severe punishment. They asserted that attacks on media outlets are unacceptable and undermine press freedom. Senior journalists Khalid Banban, Shaukat Rahi, Riaz Rajput, Jalaluddin Bhiyo, Yar Muhammad Soomro, and others also condemned the incident, calling for action against the perpetrators.

Press club 3: Daily Independent suggested that Governor Sindh Kamran Khan Tessori strongly denounced the attack on the Daily Ibrat office in Karachi, describing it as a serious threat to press freedom. He stated that any assault on the media is, in essence, an attack on the truth and the voices of the people. Governor Tessori emphasized that all conspiracies aimed at undermining press freedom will be foiled. According to the Daily Independent, he has instructed the relevant authorities to promptly apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice. He underscored that protecting journalists and media institutions is the government's top priority. Governor Tessori made it clear that such incidents are deliberate attempts to stifle press freedom, but the government will utilize all available resources to safeguard the right to free expression.