Journalist Asad Kharal says attacked over Model Town, corruption cases info

CJP sought report on incident from Punjab Police

ISLAMABAD: Journalist Asad Kharal has told police that he was attacked for carrying important data to be shared with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), as well as, the top court on massive corruption cases and the Model Town incident.

These details were shared by the Punjab police to chairman of the standing committee on human rights Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar and Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar in a report, he added.

The police are conducting geo-fencing of the place of the incident with the help of the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and Intelligence Bureau.



A joint investigation team has also been formed to probe the matter following directives from the Punjab government. The JIT is comprised of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Military Intelligence (MI) and CTD officials.

Meanwhile, speaking to The Express Tribune, Khokhar confirmed that the report has been received and it will be shared with the committee members in the next meeting in Quetta on June 11.

He stated that the committee would ensure continuous oversight of the matter.



On June 6, Kharal was attacked by unidentified ‘masked men’ near Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore.

Confirming the incident to The Express Tribune, SP Cantonment Bilal Zafar said: “We have received a complaint of an incident claiming Kharal was tortured by unidentified men.”

The anchorperson was on his way home from the airport when his vehicle was intercepted. He was taken out from the car and assaulted. Kharal was then moved to Lahore Services Hospital for medical treatment.