Woman harassed by mob outside Nazimabad music academy, police register case

KARACHI: Police have registered a criminal case and started an investigation after videos surfaced showing a woman being harassed by a large crowd outside a music academy in Nazimabad No 3.

CCTV footage and mobile phone clips that emerged days after the July 9 incident show the woman trying to shield herself by holding a chair in front of her while a crowd surrounded and confronted her near a tea stall. Police identified the woman as Ishrat Malik and said she was stopped and harassed while returning home after attending classes at the academy.

Complaint filed by academy operator

The first information report was registered on the complaint of Shakir Ali, who runs the academy. In his complaint, Ali said he operates an arts academy where students are trained in singing and qawwali.

The incident began when a man identified as Azmat Shah arrived at the academy with two other men on July 9 and tried to enter the premises. Ali alleged that the man appeared to be under the influence of intoxicants. He said he denied them entry because of their condition, after which they allegedly forced their way inside.

Ali further alleged in the complaint that one of the men took out a firearm and that about 10 more people later joined them. He accused the group of vandalising the academy, assaulting staff members and threatening that the institution would not be allowed to continue operating.

Allegations of assault and harassment

The complainant said he was physically attacked and injured during the incident. He also alleged that his wife, Huma, was harassed when members of the group pulled at her clothes. He further accused the attackers of harassing female students and outraging their modesty.

Ishrat Malik ran out of the academy in panic. The complaint states that the main suspect then allegedly brought more people from the neighbourhood, after which a crowd of nearly 200 people chased her through the streets. The mob allegedly tried to assault and harass her before she found refuge in a nearby apartment building.

Police response

Police said they were alerted through the emergency helpline and reached the scene. The Nazimabad SHO said the academy holds qawwali and singing classes and that no previous complaints had been lodged with police regarding its activities before the incident.

Some residents had stormed the academy alleging it was hosting immoral activities, though those allegations have not been independently verified. The Nazimabad SHO confirmed that a case had been registered over the harassment of the woman and the attack on the academy. No arrests had been announced at the time of the report.