May 07, 2008	Wednesday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1, 1429

KARACHI, May 6: An inquiry report initiated against Supervisory Police Officer Azizabad division Ejaz Hashmi investigating charges of alleged misconduct with a media-person following a road accident has absolved him of the charges.

Last week, a road accident occurred near Naseerabad bus stop in the jurisdiction of Gulberg police station in which two persons on a motorcycle were crushed beneath a long trailer, causing the death of one person.

Following the incident, area people gathered at the spot and set alight the front portion of the trailer, which was gutted.

However, police reached the spot to control the situation. According to the inquiry report supervised by the DIG West and conducted by the SP Liaquatabad, a media-person belonging to a private television channel was also present at the scene, who later complained that SPO Ejaz Hashmi misbehaved with him and did not allow him to prepare footage of the burning vehicle.

The findings of the inquiry report, which also carry the accounts of several eyewitnesses, say that: “according to all the statements of eyewitnesses, Ejaz Hashmi did not misbehave with the media-person of a private television channel and also did not stop the coverage of the scene. A huge crowd was present at the scene; it may be possible that innocently, the DSP might have said something rude without realizing that the media-person was also performing his job.”

“The inquiry report suggests that the SPO Azizabad be warned to remain conscious in such situations and tactfully tackle such situations with courtesy (with regard to) the media,” the SP Liaquatabad said.

However, the CCPO said the DIG concerned had issued an adverse report about the SPO and he would act accordingly.

Sources privy to the CPO said that Adviser to the Prime Minister on Interior Rehman Malik has called the IG Sindh to take action against the officer concerned when the complainant had contacted him. “This is one of the reasons why the police hierarchy are reluctant to restore the SPO to his post following the issuance of the inquiry report,” a source said.