Pakistan journalists thrashed over 'drinking water' in Ramazan

Islamabad: Crew of a Pakistani TV channel earned the wrath of students of an Islamic seminary for drinking water during the fasting period in Ramazan - the Muslim holy month of fasting.

The incident occurred yesterday in the heart of capital Islamabad, where a team from Din News was beaten up by students of Madrasa Haqqania, Dawn reported.

The madrasa management claims the journalists were drinking water during the day and that they were initially asked to stop and beaten when they continued to drink water.

A reporter of the channel, Ali Usman, told the paper that he and five other team members were assigned to interview lawyer Salman Akram Raja who is representing Nawaz Sharif's son Hussain Nawaz in the Panamagate corruption scandal.

He said one of the cameramen, Rashid Azeem, went into the madrasa which is close to Raja?s place and poured water over his head to cool off.

Some students asked him why he was drinking water and left when they were told Azeem was pouring the water on his head.

According to Usman, they saw that the madrasa management was stealing electricity and one of the cameramen started recording.

He said it instigated the students who started beating Azeem, breaking two of his teeth and snatching his camera.

The team continued filming on another camera while students threw stones at the DSNG and took away cash and valuables from the team, he said.

A source in the madrasa said the team members were drinking water in the madrasa when they were allowed to come in as they said they wanted to offer prayers.

He said the newsmen started filming later, saying the management was stealing electricity, which was not true. The newsmen were told to stop and leave repeatedly and that students beat them up when they started misbehaving, he added.

An FIR has been registered against the madrasa management with the Margalla police.