Police fail to arrest journalist’s killers

Despite the lapse of three years, the Rawalpindi Police is still ‘clueless’ about the murders of Journalist Raja Assad Hameed.
This lackluster attitude of the police in tracing murderers of the journalist raised many eyes brows as it has become habit of the local police that it only works with ‘dedication and commitment’ after either suo motu notices are taken by Supreme Court or the Punjab chief minister’s personal intervention. On March 23, 2009, some unidentified gunmen murdered Raja Assad Hameed, a reporter of English daily, outside his residence in the limits of Sadiqabad Police Station.
A murder case was registered with PS Sadiqabad on the day of occurrence but police have failed to arrest killers. Raja Amjad Hameed, the elder brother of Raja Assad, told media men that the police concerned were not tracing the killers deliberately.
“We have been running from pillar to post for justice but no one is paying any heed towards this incident that deprived us of our beloved Raja,” said Amjad while tears rolling down his cheeks. Amjad and other family members of slain journalists appealed to the chief justice of Pakistan to take notice of the killing of journalist.
Meanwhile, the journalist community of twin cities, office-bearers of Crime and Court Reporters Association Rawalpindi (CCRAR) and National Press Club Islamabad (NPC) vehemently denounced the poor performance of police for not hunting the killers of Raja. They demanded of the inspector general of police (IGP) to get the killers arrested as soon as possible.
RTA to act against illegal constructions: The Rawal Town administration has decided to launch operation against the constructions which have been built without approved maps.
The administration has issued notices to the violators of construction norms. However, tendency of filing maps with respective section of Rawal town has witnessed a rise following the demolition of illegal constructions. Four commercial maps and 50 residential buildings’ maps have been filed from March 1 to 26 while 22 residential buildings’ maps have been approved.
Teachers’ protest rallies today: Teachers’ organisations have announced to hold protest rallies and besiege the offices of the education department officers on March 28 in all the districts of Punjab, including Rawalpindi, to press for their demands. Muttahida Mahaz Usatza has issued a schedule in this regard. Protest rallies will start from press clubs. The teachers’ organisations are demanding time-scale pay, upgradation and facilities at par with federal teachers. The teachers also demanded that the children of the officers be also made bound to get admission in government run schools.