Iqrar-ul-Hassan, a television presenter and journalist, and his colleagues were assaulted and tortured by officials from the Intelligence Bureau (IB).
The five officers involved have been suspended under rule 5 (1) and (2) of the Government Servants (Efficiency & Disciplinary) Rules for mistreating the journalist and his crew, according to a notification released by IB Sindh Provincial Headquarters.
He was tortured by IB team. Six officers are suspended immediately. pic.twitter.com/PaeAZqDhtY
— Shama Junejo (@ShamaJunejo) February 14, 2022
Iqrar-ul-Hassan was allegedly tortured by IB officials for exposing the corruption, according to video footage from an IB investigator.
Iqrar-ul-Hassan and his crew were filming a piece for his popular investigative crime show Sar-e-Aam. The team discovered an officer collecting bribe and reported officer to the Director of IB.
Officials from the IB, on the other hand, attacked on the squad.
The officers stripped Iqrar-ul-Hassan and his colleagues naked, according to details supplied by him. They also held them captive for three hours, abused them, and tortured them with electric shocks. Iqrar-ul-Hassan also said that the officers tortured them while filming their recordings. They then threatened to leak the videos if the officials were exposed.
The journalist was taken to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for medical treatment after suffering injuries and dislocating his shoulder.
Fortunately, physicians say he is no longer in danger after receiving medical attention.
Iqrar-ul-Hassan, in response to the incident, stated that he is suffering from acute trauma.
The incident aroused widespread indignation and is one of the most talked-about topics on social media. Political leaders and the general public have denounced the violence and demanded that those who attacked the Sar e Aam team be arrested immediately.
Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Sindh’s Provincial Minister for Local Governments, denounced the incident on behalf of his ministry.
اینکر اقرار الحسن پر آج کراچی میں واقع ایک وفاقی ادارے کے دفتر میں تشدد کیا گیا ۔ ہم اس کی مذمت کرتے ہیں۔ اے آر وائ کے مطابق ایک وفاقی ادارے کے ہانچ افسران کو معطل کردیا گیا ہے اس واقعے کے بعد۔
— Syed Nasir Hussain Shah (@SyedNasirHShah) February 14, 2022
“Today, anchor Iqarul Hassan was tortured in a federal agency’s headquarters in Karachi. “We deplore it,” the Minister said on Twitter.
I wholeheartedly condemn the attack on TV journalist @iqrarulhassan during his recording, an attack on Iqrar is an attack on journalism! Strict action needs to be taken on the perpetrators, a precedent needs to be set for the safety of journalists in Pakistan.#iqrarulhassan pic.twitter.com/9mcaKOfUht
— Zain Khan (@ZKhanOfficial) February 14, 2022
Senior journalist Hamid Mir condemned the torture of Hassan, saying the incident reminded him of the days when journalists were brutally manhandled in Islamabad and Lahore.
انٹیلی جینس بیورو نے اس دور کی یاد تازہ کر دی جب ایسا سلوک صحافیوں اور سیاسی کارکنوں کے ساتھ لاہور اور اسلام آباد میں ہوا کرتا تھا پاکستان آج بھی وہیں کھڑا ہے جہاں 30 سال پہلے کھڑا تھا اقرار الحسن پر تشدد انتہائی قابل مذمت ہے یہ دور پچھلے ادوار سے زیادہ بدتر زیادہ شرمناک ہے ✊✌️ https://t.co/wXJz66HUMZ
— Hamid Mir (@HamidMirPAK) February 15, 2022
#iqrarulhassan
— Aamir Liaquat Husain (@AamirLiaquat) February 14, 2022
I am deeply saddened and angry. The worst treatment and immoral behaviour with @iqrarulhassan is not bearable but reprehensible and shameful. I am requesting to my Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI to take notice of the incident and determine those responsible pic.twitter.com/cAcqg9W0ab
