By: Aslam Chandio from Islamabad, Pakistan
The Special Court trying Pakistan’s former Army Chief Pervez Musharraf in high treason charges Friday took serious notice of an untoward incident, as DIG Police Jan Mohammad tortured and misbehaved with journalists including Abb Takk television reporter Tayyab Baloch and issued directives to Registrar to summon the DIG on March 22 for inquiry in the matter.
On the commencement of the hearing of the high treason case, the Special Court has developed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for journalists to cover the high treason case, following which the print and electronic media editors have recommended the names of the beat court reporters. The registrar office of the Special Court had issued numbers to the reporters for issuance of security cards on every hearing of the case.
After acquiring the card every journalist go through body search by the security personnel including secret agencies officials at the main gate of the Special Court, situated in the National Library, Islamabad. Every journalist gets a token from the mobile collection center which is established by the Special court near parking area of the court.
Tayyab Baloch, wearing ‘Shalwar Kameez’ on Friday entered the parking area of the court after meeting complete requirement under the SOPs and was on his way to hand over his mobile to the collection point where DIG Jan Mohammad directed his cops to again have body search of the Baloch bullying him that the guy in ‘Shalwar Kameez’ seems to be a terrorist.
However, Tayyab showed the security pass to the DIG Jan Mohammad but the police officer said, “ Why don’t you wear proper suit for covering the court proceedings – why are you showing resistance to obeying the police orders – go and put your mobile in your car”.
Baloch responded, “Don’t create hurdles for me avoid blaming me as terrorist, adding, I am observing the SOPs and will hand over my mobile at the collection point rather than putting it to car because I am supposed to talk to my assignment desk for disseminating the news”.
Logic was crushed when DIG Jan Mohammad ordered as many as six public servants (cops) who showed their extreme loyalty to observe illegal, unconstitutional and indecent orders, dragging Baloch towards police van and finally throwing him in the vehicle.
Luckily, President Supreme Court Bar Association Kamran Murtaza and Secretary of the body Asif Cheema timely appearance at the spot saved Baloch from police jostle who asked the DIG to refrain from manhandling.
Later, the journalist covering the Special Court proceedings staged protest and called immediate attention of the Justice Faisal Arab, presiding officer of the Special Court bench to address the situation. Justice Faisal Arab directed registrar of the bench to conduct inquiry of the matter who summoned the DIG Jan Mohammad to appear before him in the Federal Shariat Court on Saturday at 11 am.
Meanwhile, President Press Association of the Supreme Court of Pakistan Khudayar Mohla convened an emergency meeting of the body to evolve strategy to protect the constitutional right of freedom of expression of the journalists in the country. Besides, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists and leaders of the National Press Club have assured the PAS for their cooperation to address the unlawful act of the police officials.
Aslam Chandio is an Islamabad based journalist. He tweets at @aslamchandio_
