Police Brutality at Rawalpindi’s New Town Station Sparks Outrage After Assault, Lockup of Journalist Union President

Rawalpindi: A disturbing case of police brutality has rocked Rawalpindi after the unlawful detention and manhandling of Tariq Ali Virk, President of the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ), inside New Town Police Station. The incident has exposed deep-rooted issues within Punjab’s law enforcement, where uniformed power continues to act without accountability — even against those who represent press freedom.

According to eyewitness accounts, the altercation began when a journalist visited the police station to submit a legal application. While routine matters were unfolding, the situation escalated when police personnel, allegedly led by SHO Tayyab Baig, forcibly intervened in an internal matter and physically assaulted the visiting journalist over a trivial issue. When RIUJ President Tariq Ali Virk arrived to mediate and seek clarification, he was first engaged in discussion — and then suddenly grabbed, manhandled, and dragged to the lockup by multiple officers.

In a shocking display of power abuse, Work was reportedly insulted, stripped of personal belongings, locked up like a criminal, and subjected to verbal abuse. His only “offense” was questioning the SHO’s aggression and standing up for a colleague.

Eyewitnesses and videos confirm that this was no procedural misunderstanding but a targeted act of police intimidation against the journalistic community. Even as the discussion with the SHO was underway, police officers — acting without provocation — physically removed Work from the room. The SHO was heard taunting the journalist union leader, saying, “Let’s see how big of a President he is. We’ve seen many.” Such remarks, alongside threats to protestors outside, show a deeply embedded culture of arrogance and impunity.

Senior Journalist Gulzar Khan, Joint Secretary of RIUJ, condemned the entire episode, calling it an assault not just on individuals but on the institution of journalism itself. He emphasized that such incidents are not isolated and reflect a broader pattern of state hostility toward media professionals in the region.

Despite immediate intervention from journalist leaders and messages sent to senior police officials, including the CPO, no prompt relief was offered. It wasn’t until the early morning hours that Work was released, followed by the other detained journalist, Naeem Minhas, who was let go on personal surety.

While the Inspector General of Punjab Police has since ordered an inquiry and directed that those involved be “closed,” only two low-level officers were mentioned in the official press release. The main culprit — SHO Tayyab Baig — was conspicuously absent from the document. This blatant attempt to shield the actual abuser has been condemned as a cover-up.

Gulzar Khan demanded the immediate removal and arrest of the SHO, calling on Punjab’s top leadership to uphold the principles of press freedom, rule of law, and citizen dignity. “If the police can humiliate a Media Union President inside a police station, imagine what they’re doing to ordinary citizens. We will not let this go silent,” Khan stated.

This incident has once again raised serious concerns about the unchecked power of police in Punjab, the erosion of press freedoms, and the urgent need for structural reform. Until the perpetrators — especially those in command — are held accountable, journalist unions and civil society groups have vowed to continue their protest through legal and institutional channels.