KARACHI – The Rangers manhandled a staff member of The Nation during snap-checking in Allah Wali Chowrangi area at Tariq Road intersection on Sunday.

According to details, Abdullah Zafar, a staff reporter of The Nation was on his way to home from office located at MA Jinnah Road when traffic police personnel intercepted him at Nursery Road and asked him to show the documents of his motorbike.

Abdullah gave documents to the police officer and asked why they were stopping motorcycles only and reluctant to stop double-cabin vehicles passing the road at the same time.
Over this, the traffic police official took him to Rangers personnel standing near the traffic police post.
The Rangers official, without asking anything, started beating the reporter and threw him into the Rangers mobile van.

After a few minutes, the Rangers personnel dragged him out of the van and asked him to apologise.
On refusal, they kept on beating him intermittently while using abusive language and urging him to beg pardon.

An officer at the crime scene said, “You Karachiites are very stubborn and we have come from other areas to change your attitude.
”
Rangers officials also threatened the reporter of dire consequences.

Meanwhile, GM Jamali, President Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) and various political and non-political organisations have condemned the incident.

GM Jamali, while talking to The Nation, said that law enforcement agencies were in Karachi to maintain law and order in the city and such kind of activities against Karachi citizens and particularly against the journalists would not be tolerated.
He asked the authorities concerned to take immediate action against the Rangers personnel involved in the incident.

The Nation

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Israr Ahmed, crime reporter of an English national daily, has been given life threats by some unknown persons on his cell number for many days. He has lodged a complaint with Saddar Bairooni police, but they have not registered an FIR so far. It is pertinent to mention that Israr Ahmed narrowly escaped a life attempt in April 2012 in Dhamial.

The office bearers of National Press Club (NPC), Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and Crime and Court Reporters Association Rawalpindi (CCRAR) condemned the threats being given to the reporter and appealed to the federal government to take steps for protection of journalists. Talking to media, NPC Secretary General Shehryar Khan said that such threats could not stop journalists from discharging their duties. “Hundreds of journalists have so far been killed, but neither any challan has been completed nor has any culprit been arrested,” he said. He termed the situation alarming and urged the government to take steps for journalists’ protection.

CCRAR Secretary General Iqbal Malik said he had discussed the issue with the district government and filed an application for registration of an FIR at Saddar Bairooni police station. He said the association would pursue the case and ask Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan to take notice of the threats being given to the reporter.

He said Israr Ahmad, a reporter of The Nation, was being given threats by unidentified people for many days. “On Thursday night, a person phoned Israr and, using offensive language, said: “Come out of your house as we are waiting for you outside. We will burn you along with your family.” Iqbal said the journalist had no enmity with anyone and asked the district government to provide protection to him.

The Nation