A screenshot of Raza Rumi after he was attacked on Friday night.
This is the fifth attack on Express Media group.
Rumi, who had just completed his show and had left the studio, said that his car was fired upon near Raja market on Ferozpur road in Lahore.
Was fired at near Raja Market. My driver is wounded. I was dreading this day
— Raza Ahmad Rumi (@Razarumi) March 28, 2014
Talking to Express News Rumi said unidentified armed men opened fire on his car near Raja Market. He added that doctors had termed the condition of his driver as critical. The driver later succumbed to his injuries. While his guard was also injured in the incident.
Rumi added that although he had not received any direct threats but he was reportedly on the hit list of some extremist organisations.
Afterwards, an ashen faced and visibly shaken Rumi was escorted by police officials.
Talking to Express News Rumi said, “I never wanted anyone to get hurt because of me.”
Narrating the incident, Rumi said “As soon as firing started I ducked, and hid myself between the car seats,” said Rumi. He added that when the firing stopped he saw that the driver was severely injured and the guard was calling for help.
"One private company guard brought us a rickshaw to rush the injured to the hospital and then police arrived."
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has also taken notice of the attack.
Talking to media, CCPO Lahore said 11 bullet shells were recovered from the crime scene.
Case registered
A case has been registered against unidentified persons on the complaint of Raza Rumi at Garden Town Police Station on early Saturday morning.
Charges of murder and terrorism were included in the FIR.
Condemnations
Talking to Express News Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid says the government, including the prime minister condemn this attack.
Chairman Pakistan Tehreel-e-Insaf Imran Khan also condemned the attack and demanded that government must provide security to journalists and bring the culprit to the task.
Shocked & saddened by attack on Raza Rumi & death of his driver. Govt must provide proper security & bring killers 2 justice.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 28, 2014
Leader of the opposition in Punjab Assembly Mian Mehmoodur Rashid condemning the attack said that a resolution would be submitted in Punjab Assembly against the attack.
Chief Minister Sindh Qaim Ali Shah, PPP leaders Faryal Talpur and Qamaruz Zaman Kaira have also condemned cowardly the attack.
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has also condemned the attack on Raza Rumi.
"We condemn this senseless violence against brave journalists like Raza Rumi, and mourn the loss of his driver," said CPJ Asia Program Coordinator Bob Dietz. "Critical journalists continue to face enormous risks in Pakistan."
CPJ condemns attack on Pakistani journalist Raza Rumi - http://t.co/FpBG9gCz4a
— Committee to Protect Journalists (@pressfreedom) March 28, 2014
Earlier on March 19, 2014 a bomb was found outside Express News Peshawar bureau chief Jamshed Baghwan’s house in Murshadabad area of Peshawar.
Friday's attacks follow the deadly attack in January 2014, when three Express Media Group employees were killed in a gun attack in Karachi.
Last year, two gun and bomb attacks on the Karachi office of Express Media Group had injured at least four people.
https://twitter.com/NadeemfParacha/status/449590427336052737
Condemn in strongest terms attack that resulted in death of @Razarumi's driver. Authorities must investigate urgently
— Mustafa Qadri (@Mustafa_Qadri) March 28, 2014
https://twitter.com/anthonypermal/status/449591797086306305
COMMENTS (28)
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Firstly, my disgust at this cowardly attack om Raza Rumi. My prayers and best wishes for him and Express News. My humble advice to Express News and Tribune is this. This country and its weak Govt cannot protect the lives of your staff and attacks on your premises unfortunately. Therefore I think the best option to continue to publish and broadcast freely without any fear, blackmail, threats etc, is to relocate your offices to a safe place like Dubai. From there unleash a truthful campaign against these bullying,, fascist cowards, exposing them and their atrocities fearlessly. You should never surrender or give up to these barbaric murderers. The choice is yours: Either freedom of expression or suppression of truth and your collective conscience. You have to move out and then assault the assaulters mercilessly..
I am so sad to read about this reprehensible attack. Raza Rumi is one of the best journalists the country has produced. Please stay strong Raza and Express team.
@Nitin ...I think you are missing a name. You told Hamid Gul , but actually I think you wanna say Hamid Mir..As Hamid Gul is super right wing face of Mullah. How can he be threatened ?
Sad & barbaric but not shocking, given the reality of Pakistan these days. Force must be met with extreme force when you are dealing with individuals and groups who believe in using fascist tactics to silence their critics.
I hope the authorities, for a change, manage to catch and punish these violent criminals; not just the perpetrators but also the planners and their supporters.
Deep condolences to the family of victims -salute to ET and its staff for standing tall against hypocrites and curse of God upon 'revolutionaries'. God bless you Raza Rumi.
Hi Raza Rumi when you are moving to New Delhi. It is your second home. Safety first. You can return when Pakistan become normal.
/Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has also taken notice of the attack./
Chalo so jaao sare. All is well now.
Great, Raza Rumi was not attacked in Karachi else the whole lot of Punjabis would start blaming us for this. Since this was done in Punjab hence this will not be blamed on Punjabis.
Media folks please put Fake names,burkas,ninja masks and auto tune your voice while reporting the news. I see no other option when people in power who are supposed to protect you are collaborating and having tea party peace process with fanatics.
Won't blame him if he moves to Dubai or any country with his family. People who question patriotism of fellow Pakistanis who move out should ask themselves which sane person would tolerate this nonsense and put his and his family life at risk? This is journalism not war. The central government should take swift action and establish forces for media person protection.
Considering Raza Rumi is vocally opposed to 'peace talks' with the extremist Taliban, and the mullah, govt partakers...I don't think its shocking. And I find it hypocritical that one can claim of being saddened, when such commentators go to bat and make dishonest claims for such extremists...
From Raza Rumi's blog Worrying signs of Pakistani public discourse
I am a big fan of him but I am not surprised but thinking why it took so long. Jinnah himself defended the killer of the author of the book rangila rasol.
I'm glad Raza Rumi survived this murder attempt, but unfortunately his driver, Mustafa, lost his life. My heart goes out to his family and the overall Express News organization's brave journalists.
Highly condemnable...............best wishes for Raza Rumi. ............Sympathies with the driver's family.
Well i have never taken this man seriously but this attack is condemnable. truely saddened by the demise of his driver.
This attack comes in time to blame the 'militants' when they are working with the government to bring peace. Who is destabilizing peaceful talks? Enemies of Pakistan from the neighborhood and US. Do we believe American wants to leave Afghanistan?
May god protect you and others like you, who dare to dream a different future for your blighted country.
Shocking and disgusting!!!! Only Cowards can attack pen with bullet..................
This country does not deserve good peoples. The more good you are,the more dangerous your life becomes..
@shah: Be careful before you make any judgement. This is a cowart a journalist and the media as a whole. This may not be the work oistance of the mullahs or so called terrorists, but a conspiracy of an organisation which is targetting journalists, writers and media? Let the Punjab police for a change investigate this thoroughly and if needed seek assistance from scotland yard investigators. In fact Raza Rumi should insist on this, instead of slapping it in the account of so called terrorist organisations.
Rex Minor
Peoples Like Raza Romi, najam Sethi, Hamid Gul, or any Anchor this who talk truth and right are bound to get attacked in Pakistan, People like zaid ahmed , Hamid gul, Lookman they are one who are close to Extremist and support their mindset are safe in Pakistan.
It is a very terrible news. I like him a lot. He is very soft spoken person with moderate and enlightened views.
As usual non of the culprits has been arrested by law enforcement agencies. Religious Extremists are silencing the voice of people who dare to speak against them.
Pakistan has transformed from a progressive country to the dead meat. Go keep talking to these fanatics as if they understand the word of logic.
The only way to have high chances of survival in countries like Pakistan is to build up your own militia, for protection. Learn the rules of the jungle is the only way to live in it.
Raza Rumi is a courageous man who often speaks against mullahs, terrorists and the Establishment which is in bed with them. All such good people are targeted in Pakistan.