FIR against 5 including Sharif's security guards for manhandling TV cameraman

An FIR was lodged here on Tuesday against five persons, including the security guards of former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, for violently assaulting a TV cameraman a day earlier.

Footage on Monday showed Syed Wajid Ali, the cameraman of Samaa TV, lying on the ground outside the parliament building after a security guard allegedly shoved him for coming in Sharif's way while recording him, reports Dawn news.

Another guard was then seen rushing towards the cameraman and kicking him in the face. The guard, as per the footage, then escapes the scene in one of the vehicles of the protocol. The cameraman, who lost consciousness due to the kick, was shifted to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims).

According to doctors, Ali had sustained injuries on his lip, where he was administered three stitches, and on his head.

Sharif, while speaking to the media, described the incident as unfortunate and assured that "every measure will be taken in accordance with the law", Dawn said. The former leader regretted the incident but claimed that the assaulted cameraman had first hit his guard with his camera.

"That is no way (to behave)," Sharif said. "(But) the cameraman had hit the guard on his forehead with his equipment."