Mna Snatches Camera From Jawad Rod

Member of National Assembly tried to snatch Camera from Jawad Mazhar The Member of National Assembly, Anwar Ali Cheema tried to snatch camera from Jawad Mazhar, a cameraman of Rays of Development (ROD) on June 28 while he was rendering his professional duties. ROD team was covering the protesting residents of a demolished slum near Istaqlalabad at the orders of District Revenue Officer (DRO) without prior warning.

On June 27th, 2007 a slum near Istaqlalabad Abad Colony was demolished by the orders of District Revenue Officer (DRO). Most of the residents of this slum had constructed their houses unlawfully. Therefore,local government had to take action against such people.

One of the residents told Rays of development fact finding team that about 23 years ago in 1984 government evicted residents of Khuda Bukhsh Colony near Tariqabad, Sargodha. Hence the government of the Punjab allotted them land in this slum, in exchange for the plots in Khuda Bukhsh Colony. As the years passed by, more and more people along with the legal residents, started to construct their homes in the same town. Jawad Mazhar

Local government was planning for last six (06) months to wipe out the residences of illegal ihabitants of this slum. In this regard DRO, of the local government ordered to vandalize the housing of illegal populace, of this slum. Thus, a government team accompanied by the police was sent to demolish the houses. Unfortunately, the local government officials started to destroy the housing without any kind of warning to the locals. Most of the People at that time were having dinner or asleep, therefore people failed to get out of the way of Crane or falling bricks, walls, girders, and roofs. This left many locals, especially children seriously wounded.

A child, Ali Haider got severe injuries to his leg and was taken to the Clinic by Rays of Development fact finding team for first aid but his injuries were so severe that Dr Tahir decided to forward him to the DHQ hospital for proper treatment after the first aid. Ali Haider’s elder brother and a sister were also among the injured people.

The residents of the slum gathered at the office of the Nazim (Head of Local Govt) Inam-Ul-Haq Piracha next day, to record their protest against the demolition of their homes without warning. After protesting at the office of Nazim, citizens went to the DRO office who had actually ordered this destruction. ROD activists tried to converse with the relevant officer who was responsible for this incident. But he refused to talk to the ROD team or to the residents of the slum. In the meantime Anwer Ali Cheema (Member National Assembly) arrived at the scene. Thus ROD team and the residents of the slum decided to protest in front of him. People also asked him to help. On the question of helping the poor residents of the slum, Anwer Ali Cheema refused and he got so furious that he actually attacked at the ROD cameraman Jawad Mazhar and tried to slap and snatch the camera form Mr. Jawad Mazhar.

Anwer Ali Cheema seconds before charging at Jawad Mazhar (ROD)

ROD team and the protesters were really disappointed to see such a bad-mannered conduct of a national leader. Moreover ROD fact finding team protested against his offensiveness as well. ROD Chairman Ferhan Mazher condemned Cheema’s ill-bred attitude. Chairman also said “ I am traumatized to know that a public figure like Anwer Ali Cheema is so ill mannered” he emphasized that our National leaders need to learn , how to behave with other human beings. Chairman ROD was disappointed due to Cheema’s bad manners. While talking about the residents of the slum he said that government should have issued notices to forewarn the residents of Slums. Report Prepared by ROD fact finding team including: Jawad Mazhar, Nadeem Samuel, Zimran Elias, Imran Mazher and Rosey Dewan.

Report recommended by: Mr Ferhan Mazher Chairman, Rays of Development Organization Sargodha, Pakistan. www.raysofdevelopment.org