Four unidentified members of the transgender community were nominated in an FIR registered at Aabpara police station of Islamabad on Wednesday on the complaint of PTI’s General Secretary Rauf Hassan, who was attacked minutes after he came out of a private TV channel’s office on Tuesday, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
As per the text of the FIR, Rauf stated that he was a spokesman for the PTI and appeared on TV talk shows to represent his party.
“I was walking towards the parking lot after the recording of a programme at a private TV channel when a person, who appeared to be a eunuch, intercepted me and attacked me,” he said, adding, “Soon afterward, three others accompanying him attacked me with a sharp-edged weapon.”
Rauf went on to say that right at the time when the attackers were targeting his neck, suddenly the weapon struck his face near the jugular vein. “The suspects even hurled death threats at me,” read the FIR.
He said that the suspects had also attacked him two days ago outside a private TV channel office.
PTI general secretary said that he had enmity with none and that he was only a political party’s spokesman. “Therefore, I request that action is taken against those who attacked me,” he said.
PTI’s spokesman Rauf Hassan had been attacked by transgender people at Sitara Market in Islamabad on Tuesday.
The attackers used a sharp instrument, injuring Hassan's face, and managed to escape easily after the incident.
“Very shameful and reprehensible!!” the party said in a post on X. Video footage shared by the party showed Hasan bleeding from the face with anchor Shahid Masood with him.
“This reprehensible act of violence is an assault on free speech, democracy, and the rule of law.
“Such shameful tactics will not deter Raoof Hasan or the PTI from our cause. Attempts to intimidate or silence us will only strengthen our resolve to fight for a just and equitable society,” the party said, adding that he was attacked outside the office of a private media channel.
Reporter: Tayyab Saif