Chair in hand, woman stands up to mob in Karachi | The Express Tribune

CCTV and mobile phone videos have emerged showing a woman being harassed by a large crowd outside a music academy in Nazimabad No 3, prompting police to register a criminal case and launch an investigation into the incident.

The videos, which surfaced days after the July 9 incident, show the woman attempting to protect herself from an aggressive mob by holding a chair in front of her as dozens of people surround and confront her near a chai dhaba.

According to police, the woman, identified as Ishrat Malik, was stopped and harassed while returning home after attending classes at the music academy.

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The incident allegedly began when residents stormed the academy, accusing it of hosting “immoral activities.” The allegations have not been independently verified. An FIR has been registered on the complaint of Shakir Ali, who runs the academy.

In his complaint, Ali said he operates an arts academy where students receive training in singing and qawwali. He alleged that on July 9, a man identified as Azmat Shah, whom he claimed appeared to be under the influence of intoxicants, arrived at the academy with two companions and attempted to force his way inside.

According to the FIR, Ali refused them entry because of their condition, after which the suspects allegedly entered the premises by force. He claimed one of the men produced a firearm, while around 10 more individuals later joined them, vandalising the academy, assaulting staff and issuing threats that the institution would not be allowed to operate.

The complainant further alleged that the attackers physically assaulted him, causing injuries, and also harassed his wife, Huma, by pulling at her clothes. He accused the group of similarly harassing female students and outraging their modesty.

The FIR states that one female student, later identified as Ishrat Malik, fled the academy in panic. According to the complaint, the main suspect allegedly gathered more people from the neighbourhood, after which a crowd of nearly 200 individuals chased the woman through the streets, allegedly attempting to assault and harass her before she managed to take refuge in a nearby apartment building. Police were called to the scene via the emergency helpline.

The Nazimabad SHO said the academy conducts classes in qawwali and singing and that no prior complaints had been lodged with the police regarding its activities before the incident. He confirmed that police have registered a case over the harassment of the woman and the attack on the academy. No arrests have yet been announced.