KARACHI: Unidentified armed policemen in uniform and civvies kidnapped, tortured and robbed the Geo News Karachi Bureau Chief Faheem Ahmed Siddiqui in the Shahra-e-Noor Jahan police remit.
According to Faheem Siddiqui, he was hailed by a police mobile near Sakhi Hassan Chowrangi as he was driving to work on Saturday afternoon. Expecting a normal security check, Siddiqui complied and stopped his jeep.
He added that the cops in plain clothes then pulled him out of his car and began to beat him.
The men covered Siddiqui’s face with a cloth, bound his hands and took him away towards an undisclosed location in his own car. Faheem told Geo News that besides the two men (who were in plain clothes) the rest of them were in uniform and seemed to be fresh recruits.
The men flanking him on either side in the back of his SUV armed with Kalashnikov rifles continued to beat him and abuse him as well as Geo News. Siddiqui said, adding that he was driven around blindfolded.
His abductors demanded he reveal his mobile phone password and after he complied they made several phone calls providing updates.
Siddiqui said he was finally left with his hands tied in Manghopir near the Hub Dam. His abductors left him in the deserted area and took away Siddiqui’s licensed weapon, three mobile phones and all the documents and electronics that were present in his car.
IG Sindh told Geo News that an investigation is being conducted into the incident. He added that they are trying to ascertain which policemen are involved in this incident.
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has taken notice of the issue and assured that an inquiry will be conducted by the Rangers and the police. He stressed that the facts will be brought to light.
Nisar made it clear that it is against the law for policemen in plain clothes to detain someone. He assured that serious action will be taken in light of Faheem Siddiqui’s abduction.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) West Range Feroze Shah taking notice of the kidnapping and torture of Faheem Siddiqui has constituted a committee under the supervision of SSP Central.
Moreover, the police recorded the statement of Fahim Siddiqui under Section 154 of Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) and later they lodged an FIR of kidnapping, torture and dacoity at the Shahra-e-Noor Jehan Police Station against unidentified policemen.
Noor Aftab adds from
Islamabad: The journalist community has demanded the Sindh government to immediately arrest the culprits involved in kidnap, assault and torture of Faheem Siddiqui.
President National Press Club Shahryar Khan said those who kidnapped senior journalist Siddiqui included six policemen — four in uniform and two in plain clothes — and they not only tortured him but also snatched his cellular phones and cash.
Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) president Afzal Butt has given the Sindh government a 12-hour deadline to ascertain who is behind this incident and to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Secretary Karachi Press Club AH Khanzada said the whole journalist fraternity was deeply concerned over the incident. He demanded the government to immediately ascertain those responsible for the assault on the senior journalist and bring them to book.
President of Rawalpindi Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) Ali Raza and secretary general Bilal Dar also demanded Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah to immediately probe the incident and arrest the culprits who kidnapped and tortured Faheem.
APP adds: Minister for Information Senator Pervaiz Rashid strongly condemned an incident of torture on the Geo News Karachi bureau chief.
The minister, in a statement, said that the government believed in freedom of expression and would not tolerate any attack on independence of media.
He said that the government would make every possible effort for the safety and security of media persons so that they could perform their professional obligation in accordance with their professional ethos.
