Geo reporter beaten up by CDA official, guards

ISLAMABAD: An official of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) along with security guards attacked a team of Geo News channel on Friday and beat up senior reporter Ayaz Akbar Yousafzai here at the National Cricket Ground F-7.

“I was pushed many times, beaten up by Chaudhry Shahzad, two other persons namely Abid Kiani, his son Umar Kiani and their security guards inside the ground when reached there for coverage,” Yousafzai told ‘The News’

The Geo correspondent was present at the ground for coverage for a dispute between Shabbir Ahmad whose ground was forcibly occupied by the Municipal Corporation of Islamabad (MCI) and CDA officials.

Shabbir Ahmad was granted a stay order by Civil Judge Naseer Ahmad Kakar against CDA action. Shabbir who reached the ground with stay order, was also beaten by Abid Kiani and Umar Kiani and later they were joined by Chaudhry Shahzad and guards present there. “The security guards present there pointed pistols and guns at me and I was thrashed badly,” he said.

Shabbir said the people present at the ground also tore the court’s stay orders. Chaudhry Shahzad, who is Sports Officer in the CDA, when contacted, asked this correspondent to call again after a few minutes. However, he did not receive the call later despite repeated attempts.

The journalist community of Rawalpindi and Islamabad has strongly condemned the incident and manhandling of Geo reporter demanding of the interior minister and minister of state for information to take notice.