The journalists were nominated in the FIRs that were registered against estranged Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader DrZulfiqarMirza, who is also a former provincial home minister.

“Our actual crime is that we reported what was taking place in Badin,” claimed Badin Press Club president TanveerArain, referring to the police siege outside Mirza’s farmhouse and the expected storming of his residence.

Araid led the journalists from his district at a protest in Hyderabad on Monday. Several rights activists and local journalists also participated in the demonstration.

While the provincial government on Monday apologised in the Sindh High Court for the assault on the media in Karachi, their counterparts in Badin have not been so lucky.

“We have never had such a troublesome patch before,” said Arain.

The booked media men include MumtazMemon, YousufJani, DirMurad Mari, Shankar Kumar, Meharrudin Mari, NiazMemon, ShafqatPinyaro, AacharAzeem, Haji Khan Lashari and MurtazaMemon.

They all have been nominated in half-a-dozen FIRs, including one lodged at Darakshan police station in Karachi.

Mari, Lashari and MurtazaMemon have been charged under ATA sections in the FIR lodged against Mirza and his supporters for storming the police station.

Moreover, Mari has been named in four cases and Lashari in two.

Arain accused Badin SSP Khalid Mustafa Korai for persecuting his colleagues on behalf of the ruling party.

“Korai and two other local PPP leaders conveyed us messages that our names can be removed from the cases if we submit in writing that we apologise for the coverage we gave to Mirza and that we would not do it again.”

Korai was, however, unavailable for comments.

Having rebuffed this offer, they demanded the formation of a judicial commission to probe their alleged involvement in the crimes ascribed to them.

The regional incharge of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, DrAshothamaLuhano, also visited Badin on a fact-finding mission last week and observed the “prevalence of fear and political victimisation”.

“The police are raiding homes, beating people, affecting businesses and hampering professional duties of the media men,” he said.

“And this all appears related to the ongoing political confrontation.”

PunhalSaryo, a rights activist who heads HariPorhiyat Council, remarked that protesting journalists were never charged under the terrorism law even during martial law regimes.

He also pointed out that an economic war lies at the root of the issue, with huge deposits of oil, gas, coal, copper and gold, and rich coastal fishing, sugar industries and agriculture.

“Mirza has considerable support among the masses,” he said.

“If he combines forces with the anti-PPP political parties, they can put up a strong challenge to the PPP in the upcoming local government elections.”

Express Tribune

Former Justice Wajihuddin Ahmed told Business Recorder that under the law, a citizen has the right to register a complaint against those he/she suspects through an FIR, however, if the complaint is lodged maliciously then the affected person can file a suit for defamation over malicious prosecution under criminal law.

Iqbal Khattak, executive Director of Freedom Network (FN), said that probe in the attack on Mir will be the litmus test of justice for the media. ?”What is more worrying is the fact that media owners, working journalists and government ministers are sharply divided on how to tackle the ever increasing security threats Pakistani media is facing,” Khattak said.

Senior journalist Mazhar Abbas pointed out that it is critical to investigate prior to accusing any one or any entity of complicity. Chairperson of Defence of Human Rights Amina Masood Janjua said the missing persons’ case was highlighted by Mir and she and all the families of the missing persons will keep praying for his health, prosperity and long life always.

Business Recorder