Sindh

Police attack journalists outside SHC as Mirza appears in court

Black masked commandos and heavy contingents of police took position outside ATC-III

Zubair Ashraf May 23, 2015

Express News screengrab

KARACHI: Police attacked on Saturday media personnel stationed outside the Sindh High Court as former provincial home minister appeared at the registrar’s office.

Mirza reached SHC on Saturday to appear before an anti-terrorism court as bail in a case registered against him for harassing police men expired today.

Black masked commandos and heavy contingents of police led by acting SSP South Chaudhry Asad took position outside ATC-III.

The roads blocked outside the SHC had been blocked for public. Mirza’s wife and formed National assembly speaker also reached the SHC.

As per reports, three of Mirza’s guards have been taken into custody from outside the SHC.

On Friday, a heavy contingent of police raided former home minister Zulfiqar Mirza’s residence in the upscale Defence neighbourhood on Friday and detained three of his men.

Read: Three detained following raid on Mirza’s house

The South zone police have picked up Mirza’s driver Naik Muhammad, a servant named Ibrahim and Sikandar Brohi, one of his security guards. Police also claimed to have recovered three sub-machine guns from the men.

Mirza, disowned by senior Pakistan Peoples Party leaders, and some of his associates are facing multiple court cases in Badin and Karachi.

They were booked earlier this month on charges of attempted murder, attacking a police station and forcible closure of shops in a Badin market.

The situation in Badin took a turn for the worse when police officials raided Mirza’s farmhouse to arrest him and his associates.

The former minister has been granted pre-arrest bail in all the cases registered against him, which, he claims, were politically motivated.

Interior minister takes notice

Interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan took notice of police excesses on media workers outside the SHC.

In a statement on Saturday, Nisar said that violence on those reporting an event was not tolerable. He directed Inspector General Police and Director General Rangers, Sindh to ensure protection of media-workers as well as Zulfiqar Mirza’s wife Fehmida Mirza.

Nisar stressed that political matters must be resolved politically terming it the best way to avoid conflicts.

COMMENTS (6)

M Salee Chaudhry | 9 years ago | Reply kudos for your staff for reporting Police's attack on the journalists outside SHC as I noted with concern that the staff of two leading papers Dawn and The News failed to report it. However the attackers were not policemen but masked goons of Zardari, rightly described as Gullo Butts by Fehmida Mirza former speaker NA, who came on Police Vans with out number plates and indulged in the worst kind of vandalism , breaking cars of Mirza family, beating media people and arresting guards and driver of Mirza while policemen including SSP saw all that like silent spectators. It's good that Nisar Chaudhry realised the gravity of situation and ordered Rangers to ensure security of Mirza's family. What kind of image of Pakistan is being painted by these dirty games of Zardari&co?

ibs | 9 years ago | Reply This is clear now. These masked men are obviously not cops, they do not even have the physique of cops. They were thugs sent by zardari which is why they knew what they had to do and they did it. And how do special commandos come in dressed in regular street clothes? Doesn't make any sense.

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KK Kool | 9 years ago | Reply The difference between legitimate and illegitimate armed organizations is of uniform they wear and flags on their shoulders. In the video, it is hard to distinguish between legitimate and illegitimate. I appreciate the Chief Justice of SHC who afforded all this right in front of SHC. I think he knows the difference under Geneva Convention. Such kind of system will lead us to become a rogue state soon. These actions need to be nipped in the bud. Who allowed police to be in civil clothes that too on official duty during working hours on a weekday? He must be brought to justice. But I am sure justice is sleeping in our mother land till awakened by.....

Zaheer | 9 years ago | Reply Witnessing the Sindh police brutality outside Sindh High Court has exposed the tall claims of so-called democratic sindh government which is using police power against its opponent the police did not spare the media persons who were presented there to perform their duty were also attacked. Sometime back the sindh assembly passed resolution against police high handedness and Gullo Butt action in Model Town Lahore but in Karachi there were many Butts wearing masks and holding sticks smash vehicles parked outside SHC. Definitely police has been politicised and act according to their masters wish (Govt). The question arises here is why those policemen were hiding their faces as they were deployed to avert any untoward incident if happens. This clearly indicates that it was pre-planned and home minister had approved the plan and give freehand to arrest Mirza at any cost failing which the police attacked media persons. Whats the difference between democracy and dictatorship in Pakistan when our politicians even do not know the meaning and true spirit of democracy as they strongly believe to crush the opponents with power. The only thing sindh govt will do is they will promise to conduct an inquiry against the incident which will be only a eye-wash. (GULLOISM is back again) but in Karachi.

MSH | 9 years ago | Reply Who are these black masked commandos ?.Zardari private army trained on the same line as Bhutto FSF.Is Zardari preparing for final round with Army.

Timorlane | 9 years ago | Reply Scenes look as if we are in Columbia or Valenzuela If Zardari rule continued in this kingdom of sinned Karachi would look like Mogadishu soon enough

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