Request for judicial inquiry against incident of implicating a senior journalist in terrorism case

Online, August 25, 2009 (Newswire.com) - Journalists have always remained the representatives of society due to their presentations of all circles of the society and regardless of the issues and matters that are in swing around them. But in our country, the history of their social acknowledgement is not well versed, as the LEAs and security agencies and most importantly police, at several times, have reacted in no lesser way than the notorious parts of the society to defame their hardly acquired reputation.

One such incident is also in papers now-a-days that recently took place in Mirpurkhas. Presently, Afaq Ahmed Khan, a senior journalist and president MUJ was encircled for this trial. However, the police continued its history of deprecating. Whereas, any suitable reconsideration of the issue is yet to be executed.

As per details, in the previous week, Abdul Nasir Khan had lodged the case with town police station of attempt to murder, beating, ablazing with intention of killing and spreading terrorism( under section 324, 337 A(I), F(I), 34 PPC, 436 and 6/7 Anti terrorism act ) against the senior journalist and president MUJ Afaq Ahmed Khan.

However, The Mirpurkhas union of journalists (MUJ) has strongly condemned the charges on the president MUJ and said that police should have ascertained the details before lodging the case.

A huge protest rally was also taken out by Mirpurkhas union of Journalists, different organisations and civil society including Gulistan e Mazoreen center Mirpurkhas, Anjuman Akhbar Faroshan, Jaffria Alliance, PPP, Peoples youth, Muslim league functional, Jeay Sindh students federation, PML (N) here on Saturday from railway station chowk.

The rally was taken out to protest against the registration of false FIR by town police against the senior journalist and president MUJ Afaq Ahmed Khan. Protesters were led by Ghulam Rasool Mugheri, Javed Malik and Ayub Maher. They raised slogans against the complainant and police. They were carried banners and placards and marched through main roads and reached at Market chowk where they observed sit in. Protesters burnt tyres, and as result, traffic was suspended for four hours. Heavy contingents of police were present on the occasion.

Speakers on the occasion strongly condemned the police behavior towards journalists and deplored that on the simple applications of narcotic peddlers and money extortionists, police were registering the FIRs against the journalists in the district without any investigation. It is noteworthy to mention here that within the last two months, various FIRs were lodged against the journalists including Syed Zahir Shah, Farooque Kaim Khani, M.Hashim Shar, Afaq Ahmed Khan etc.
The protesters lamented that false cases were being lodged against the journalists on the behest of drug mafia and criminals that was prevailing resentment among the local journalists.

The police should at least adopt some sensible proceedings while lodging any case whether it's related to a journalist or any common man. Whereas, the notorious community must be testified before their sentence to be considered as a proof.

Journalist community and police coalition can serve as 'flash and action' for the betterment of society and also to wipe out the evils. So, they should strengthen this bond for the development of more securing environment, and this can only be done by following the norms and ethics of their respective professions.

Many thanks,

Qamaruddin sheikh
President National Press Club Mirpurkhas, Sindh.
Contact No: 0333-2991129

M. Hashim Shar
General Secretary National Press Club Mirpurkhas, Sindh.
Contact No: 0333-2962449

Watch Protest Video

Part 1 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yG-tcTyqBVs

Part 2 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbeeNu77aYg

Part 3 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RmHk8n3AIM