JournalismPakistan.com | Published July 30, 2012
Join our WhatsApp channel
ISLAMABAD: Frontier Post journalist Anwer Abbas, beaten by police for drinking Pepsi during fasting hours last week, has sent in a first-hand account to JournalismPakistan.com of what happened that day at the Daman-i-Koh picnic spot on the Margalla Hills.
“Last Friday after covering the Senate session, my friend Malik Saeed Awan from INP and I decided to have something to drink because of the blazing weather. Since I was not fasting and my home and office were several kilometers away, we decided to go to Daman-i-Koh to have some soft drinks.
“Once there we chose a secluded corner well away from all the people. There were about 7 to 10 visitors in the park at that time including some dating couples.
“Just as we were having our drinks, a policeman named Shahzad arrived and told us we were committing a sin, this being the fasting month. He snatched the glass from my hand, smelt it and then rudely tossed it away.
“I told him I was not fasting and was having my drink in an isolated corner. He asked for my national ID card which I handed over. He told me he was going to register a FIR under Ramadan Ordinance against me.
“He then asked us to accompany him to the police post adjacent to the park and we did. On the way there the cop started using abusive language.”
"At the police post there were already two officers present, one of whom was Abid Shah. They all started threatening us, posing as if they were drunk.
“Abid told us ‘you have never dealt with police, now we will let you know what police is.’ Just then Shahzad stood up, abused me and pushed me hard. I slapped his face in anger and thus started the fight.
“Abid started beating me with his belt while Shahzad and I exchanged punches. My friend attempted to restore peace but was hit as well.
“The cops said they would make sure we do not come out of prison in less than 12 months.”
“We were then taken to the police station with Shahzad threatening me all the way. The cops there were polite and asked me what action I wanted taken against their errant colleagues.
“I could barely open my left eye following the beating I got and my back was red with marks of belt used by Abid….yet I decided to spare them.”
July 08, 2025: As Pakistani authorities move to block YouTube channels of journalists, censorship tightens. Yet, social media has emerged as a defiant force, keeping the spirit of free speech alive despite increasing state control.
July 08, 2025: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has acquitted a murder accused, ruling that confessions made to the media while in police custody are inadmissible. Justice Athar Minallah emphasized due process and transparency in legal proceedings.
July 08, 2025: The Pakistan government has approached a court seeking the removal of several YouTube channels operated by prominent journalists, accusing them of spreading false information and provoking unrest against state institutions.
June 11, 2025: Pakistan celebrated a narrow win over Bangladesh, but beneath the jubilation lies a deeper crisis—from sidelined veterans to a collapsing domestic structure—signaling an urgent need for cricket reform.
June 11, 2025: Journalists walked out of the post-budget press conference in Islamabad to protest the absence of a technical briefing and the government's dismissive behavior, calling it unacceptable and intolerable.
May 31, 2025: Dr. Nauman Niaz has issued a defamation notice to Shoaib Akhtar over derogatory remarks made during a recent broadcast, reigniting a longstanding media feud between the two prominent figures in Pakistan.
May 30, 2025: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has demanded the full repeal of PECA, citing its vague language, coercive powers, and threats to free speech and digital rights in Pakistan.
May 30, 2025: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has condemned the murder of journalist Syed Mohammed Shah in Jacobabad, calling for urgent justice and improved safety for media professionals in Sindh.
May 19, 2025 PJS reports 219 Palestinian journalists killed in Israeli attacks since October 7, with 30 women among the victims. Over 430 were injured and 685 family members were killed. Read more on the systematic targeting of media in Gaza.
May 15, 2025 Discover the legacy of Samiullah Khan, Pakistan’s legendary "Flying Horse," whose breathtaking speed and artistry redefined hockey. From Olympic glory to World Cup triumphs, his story is one of myth, movement, and magic.
May 04, 2025 Algerian authorities suspend Echorouk News TV for 10 days after it used a racist slur against African migrants. ANIRA demands an apology, calling it a violation of human dignity.
May 04, 2025 NCHR and MMfD launch a journalism fellowship to train reporters on digital rights & gender inclusion in Pakistan. Supported by UNESCO, this initiative aims to bridge the gender digital divide. Apply by May 15, 2025!
April 23, 2025 Discover Dr. Nauman Niaz’s In A Different Realm: Story of Quadruple & Triple Centuries 1876–2025, a profound exploration of cricket's most monumental innings, blending historical analysis with poetic narrative.