ALOK31
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In a disturbing incident, senior journalist and Op-Ed Editor of The News Zainul Abedin was attacked by four men outside his home in Gulshan-i-Iqbal Block 2, ostensibly for watching TV and listening to Qawwalis. The incident was reported to the police.
According to the journalist, at around 11 pm on August 27, four men kicked the gate of his house and began to hurl abuse at him. When he went to the gate to talk to them, he was surrounded and grabbed, with one of the men objecting to his watching TV and listening to Qawwalis. When asked who they were and why they should have any problem with what anyone did in the privacy of their home, one of them reportedly said: We do have a problem with these things but we will solve your problem today.
Then they started beating him, one of them punching him on his face and breaking his glasses. As they delivered more kicks, slaps and blows, they kept repeating, We will not let you go unless you repent and say you will not turn your TV on again and you will stop listening to music.
The men tried to follow him into his house, where he lives with his sister, but he managed to close the gate. They eventually went away hurling abuse and threats: Next time it will be worse. Do not turn on your TV and no songs and Qawwalis here, they said threatening further violence should Zainul Abedin not heed their call.
It subsequently emerged that the men lived behind the journalists home and were known in the area for their puritanical ways and their disdain towards watching TV and listening to music.
They were also known to go from house to house in the name of Tableegh urging people to give up their sinful ways. It also emerged that the attackers are Riaz , Fahad, Ohaad, Saad, all brothers and sons of Mehboob who lives nearby.
A complaint has been lodged with the Gulshan-i-Iqbal police but no action has so far been taken.
The incident draws attention to a disturbing phenomenon. The attitude and action of such elements should be unacceptable not only for the direct victims of their threats and intimidation but also to those worried about the rise of extremism in our midst. The lack of police action so far can only embolden such zealots.
Senior staffer of The News attacked
According to the journalist, at around 11 pm on August 27, four men kicked the gate of his house and began to hurl abuse at him. When he went to the gate to talk to them, he was surrounded and grabbed, with one of the men objecting to his watching TV and listening to Qawwalis. When asked who they were and why they should have any problem with what anyone did in the privacy of their home, one of them reportedly said: We do have a problem with these things but we will solve your problem today.
Then they started beating him, one of them punching him on his face and breaking his glasses. As they delivered more kicks, slaps and blows, they kept repeating, We will not let you go unless you repent and say you will not turn your TV on again and you will stop listening to music.
The men tried to follow him into his house, where he lives with his sister, but he managed to close the gate. They eventually went away hurling abuse and threats: Next time it will be worse. Do not turn on your TV and no songs and Qawwalis here, they said threatening further violence should Zainul Abedin not heed their call.
It subsequently emerged that the men lived behind the journalists home and were known in the area for their puritanical ways and their disdain towards watching TV and listening to music.
They were also known to go from house to house in the name of Tableegh urging people to give up their sinful ways. It also emerged that the attackers are Riaz , Fahad, Ohaad, Saad, all brothers and sons of Mehboob who lives nearby.
A complaint has been lodged with the Gulshan-i-Iqbal police but no action has so far been taken.
The incident draws attention to a disturbing phenomenon. The attitude and action of such elements should be unacceptable not only for the direct victims of their threats and intimidation but also to those worried about the rise of extremism in our midst. The lack of police action so far can only embolden such zealots.
Senior staffer of The News attacked
... my pichvara always get kicked where ever i go 
