PML-F leader renders apology to Tribune staffer

Pirzada Yasir Shah says his party believes in freedom of expression, incident regrettable

KARACHI: Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) leader Pirzada Yasir Shah, whose guards assaulted The Express Tribune reporter Zubair Ashraf, condemned the incident and rendered an apology on Tuesday.



Shah said he was not aware about the incident that whether a guard from his convoy had assaulted the reporter. "We believe in freedom of expression and this incident is regrettable," he said.

"It is a condemnable act. We accept our mistake and render an apology," he said, adding that this will never repeat in the future.

Ashraf was allegedly assaulted by the private guards of the PML-F leader when his convoy was passing through the Korangi Road at around 7pm on Saturday. According to Ashraf, he along with his colleague, photojournalist Athar Khan, were heading to the office pillion riding a motorcycle, when the rashly driven vehicles in the convoy of Shah tried to overtake all other motorists in front of the National Medical Centre Hospital.



On Tuesday, three private guards of the PML-F, who were allegedly involved in manhandling Ashraf, were remanded to judicial custody by a magistrate.