Published: March 17, 2010

On Friday, March 5, 2010 I went to Sheikh Chilli’s Restaurant located on Hillcroft just off of South West Freeway. Mr. Bombaywala and his friend Mr. Nayyar Alam were already there having lunch. As I was standing at the counter while busy on my cell phone, I saw Mr. Ghulam Mohammad Bombaywala and his friend Mr. Nayyar Alam got up and came up to the counter. One stood on my right and the other on the left. Since I was still busy on my cell phone I asked the attendant at the counter to serve them first. I left the counter and sat down. Mr. Bombaywala and Mr. Alam pulled two chairs and sat down one facing me and the other on my side.. Mr. Bombaywala instructed me in an abrasive and threatening manner to shut down my cell phone. Upon my refusal, Mr. Bombaywala, snatched my cell phone and threw it away thus destroying it. He then shouted that I had threatened his family. Mr. Alam and Mr. Bombaywala started kicking me and punching me. I shouted and asked the Restaurant attendant to call 911 which he did.

Just before the police arrived Mr. Bombaywala, tore off his shirt. Upon the arrival of police, Mr. Bombaywala wanted to show his torn shirt as an evidence that I assaulted him.

The truth of the matter is that I did not even raise my hands to defend myself. The restaurant video shows the evidence, however, Mr. Bombaywala has possibly given a false statement that I tore off his shirt.

I have already registered an official complaint with the Houston Police Department’s homicide division located on 1200 Travis. I have been assured by the department that they would investigate this incident.

Needless to say that I have video evidence and witnesses to prove how I was assaulted.

Now the question is why this incident took place. I am a journalist and publisher of a community newspaper, Pakistan Times. Like most of you, I do investigative reporting. As you know, Mr. Bombaywala has filed for a number of bankruptcies including his personal over the past several years. We have always suspected that all those bankruptcies were not kosher. We have always believed and still do that Mr. Bombaywala’s bankruptcies must be thoroughly investigated.

There are unconfirmed reports that Internal Revenue Service “IRS” has a case against Mr. Bombaywala and his finances. I have been following those rumors and trying to get to the bottom of this developing story. I was informed and warned by different individuals that Mr. Bombaywala is extremely upset with me and my investigative reporting on his affairs and would one day try to harm me. That is what happened on Friday, March 5, 2010. I am told that his plan was to accuse me of assaulting him so that I be arrested etc.

This is an attack on journalism and free media. Today, if he gets away with this crime, he is surely capable of hurting somebody else.

This press conference was attended by Tariq Khan of Pakistan Chronicle, Pakistan Journal, hamim Syed of Pakistan News, Saeed Gaddi of Pakistan Post, Haider Kazim Voice of Asia, and reporter from Houston Chronicle and several other community members were also present. After handing out the press release and explaining the situation there was a question answer section. Najam Shaikh was asked that if there were any witnesses to prove his allegations. He stated that he has a video and some other people who can testify that he is telling the truth and he showed the video also. The video was not very clear but he did show it to support his allegations.

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