Journalist claims he was assaulted by man he was investigating

GALVESTON - A Pakistani journalist in Pasadena claims he was assaulted outside a bank by another Pakistani man he was investigating for a news story into the man's alleged financial misconduct.

In a lawsuit filed Sept. 21 in Galveston County District Court, Manzoor Memon says that Syed Bukhari attacked him in the parking lot of a Hometown Bank in League City in late March after a chance encounter.

Memon also asserts that both the bank and the League City Police Department failed to help him resolve the situation, stressing both entities sided with Bukhari.

Bukhari, Hometown Bank and the city of League City are named defendants in the case.

According to the complaint, Memon went to Hometown Bank on the morning of March 29 to speak with bank officials about Bukhari's monetary dealings for a newspaper article he was working on when he met Bukhari in the lobby.

The suit states the two men exchanged short, cold glances and Bukhari muttered expletives in their native tongue under his breath.

Memon left the bank when he learned he would not be meeting with bank officials that day, and claims an irate Bukhari followed him out and assaulted him, the suit says.

He claims he asked a bank official to call the police, but was asked to leave the premises. He later learned from authorities that Bukhari filed assault charges against him.

The suit further explains that Bukhari and his relatives - including his son who is reportedly a Houston police officer - continued to harass and intimidate Memon several months after the supposed attack, compelling the plaintiff to stop taking trips to League City.

Seeking unspecified monetary damages and a temporary restraining order from Galveston County 10th District Court Judge David Garner, Memon is representing himself.

Case No. 10-cv-3584