LAHORE: Senior journalist and anchorperson Asad Kharal was attacked by ‘masked men’ near Allama Iqbal International Airport in the wee hours of Wednesday.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Cantonment Bilal Zafar said: “We have received a complaint of an incident claiming Kharal was tortured by unidentified men.”
The senior journalist was on his way home from the airport when his vehicle was intercepted. He was taken out from the car and assaulted. Kharal was then moved to Lahore Services Hospital for medical treatment.
Asad Kharal is presently chief analyst and anchorperson at BOL. He is host of the famous TV program ‘Ab Pata Chala’. Asad Kharal is considered one of the most experienced and best investigative journalists of Pakistani media industry and had worked on several exclusive inside stories throughout his journalism career. During his around 20 years of journalism career, he had successfully worked for more than 2000 investigative stories for the print and electronic media of the country. He had also associated with several leading media groups of Pakistan including Express Tribune, Dunya Television and ARY News.
He has also an honour of winning “Investigative Journalist of the Year” award in 2003. Asad Kharal was co-hosting a program named “Andar Ki Baat” on ARY News. He had also written six books on different topics and worked for Chicago Sun Times and The Guardian as a freelancer.
Asad Kharal is also chairman of Tehlka News and Center for Investigative Journalism (CIJ). He is also associated and contributes to Customs Today. His Investigative Journalism strength has enabled Customs Today to unearth many huge mega scams in customs department including the Rs. 1,000 Billion green channel one.
It is pertinent to mention here that recently Asad Kharal repeatedly published full page appeals to the Chief Justice of Pakistan in Customs Today newspaper on the Rs. 1,000 Billion mega scam of green channel. Big names like Mobilink and QMobile are reported to be involved in the mega scam. Last Friday 1 June 2018, he appeared at the Supreme Court and filed complaint along with the copies of the appeals. He also filed two more complaints. Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar took notice of all three complaints and called for reports from relevant quarters within 10 days. In a letter dated Tuesday 5 June marked as Immediate/ urgent, the court asked FBR chairman for reply and sent copy to the Chairman NAB for information and necessary action. On the very next day of this letter in the wee hours of Wednesday Asad Kharal was attacked by ‘masked men’ near Allama Iqbal International Airport.
Asad Kharal has been active in unveiling many mega scams and corruption cases where big and powerful individuals, bureaucrats and political personalities are hooked. However, Asad Kharal is yet to accuse anyone of the attack.
Customs Today stands for security for all journalists and media persons in Pakistan. It is unfortunate that Pakistan has been ranked 139th out of 180 countries in the 2017 World Press Freedom Index maintained by the Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Pakistan should be an entirely safe place for all media persons.
Customs Today team condemns the brutal attack on the senior journalist Asad Kharal and appeals to the Honorable Chief Justice of Pakistan to take notice of the incidence.
