Journalist Asad Ali Toor attacked in Islamabad

Unidentified assailants broke into his house in the federal capital, as per unconfirmed reports

Islamabad-based journalist Asad Ali toor has been reportedly attacked in the federal capital late Tuesday.

As per initial and unconfirmed reports, unidentified assailants broke into his house and physically assaulted the journalist.

Journalist Waseem Abbasi claimed in a tweet that Toor had sustained “severe injuries” in the attack and was being shifted to a hospital.

Journalists @AsadAToor attacked at his house.. Sustained severe injuries. Being shifted to hospital .. Prayers for his recovery.

— Waseem Abbasi (@Wabbasi007) May 25, 2021

Condemn attack on journalist @AsadAToor at his house in Islamabad worried about his safety#IStandWithAsadToor #JournalismIsNotACrime

— Mubashir Zaidi (@Xadeejournalist) May 25, 2021

"اسد علی طور نے چند روز قبل یوٹیوب پر اپنی ایک ویڈیو میں یہ بیان دیا تھا کہ انہیں نامعلوم نمبروں سے کالز موصول ہوئی ہیں اور اس حوالے سے ایک وفاقی وزیر نے بھی انہیں خبردار کرتے ہوئے کہا ہے کہ 'وہ تمہارے سر کے پیچھے ہیں'."https://t.co/pnJwqkjq4R pic.twitter.com/sIxcEG3TTk

— Bilal Farooqi (@bilalfqi) May 25, 2021

Senior journalist Ambar Rahim Shamsi shared that Toor was “badly injured” in the attack. “Still unclear whether it was one or more 'unknown people'. Badly injured. I had been dreading this day. Let this be a reminder: you are not safe if you dare to challenge the powerful,” she wrote on her handle.

Friend and colleague @AsadAToor has been attacked at his home. Still unclear whether it was one or more 'unknown people'. Badly injured. I had been dreading this day. Let this be a reminder: you are not safe if you dare to challenge the powerful.

— Amber Rahim Shamsi (@AmberRShamsi) May 25, 2021

“Three men forcibly entered his flat, tied him up and beat him up very badly. A statement has been given to the police and he is undergoing a medico-legal examination. The CCTV footage has also been acquired,” she added, quoting Toor’s friends.

According to friends with @AsadAToor right now, three men forcibly entered his flat, tied him up and beat him up very badly. A statement has been given to the police and he is undergoing a medico-legal examination. The CCTV footage has also been acquired.

— Amber Rahim Shamsi (@AmberRShamsi) May 25, 2021

“Asad Toor is still waiting to be treated in hospital, he’s upright but bloodied and shaken,” another senior journalist Cyril Almeida tweeted.

Asad Toor is still waiting to be treated in hospital, he’s upright but bloodied and shaken, currently friends are being given the run around to get him treated because of his injuries...

— cyril almeida (@cyalm) May 25, 2021

Senior journalist Azaz Syed shared a video of Toor arriving at the hospital for treatment.

اسد طور کا پمز ہسپتال پہنچا دئیے گئے : ماسک پہنے 3 افراد نے گF-11 فلیٹ میں زبردستی داخل ہو کر باندھ کر تشدد کا نشانہ بنایا ۔#AttackOnMedia #AttackOnJournalist pic.twitter.com/FwhmDphQfX

— Azaz Syed (@AzazSyed) May 25, 2021

Journalist Adnan Hussain shared a video clip in which Toor can be heard telling what happened with him while he was being attacked by 'unknown people' at his apartment.

Asad Toor telling what happened with him while he was attacked by unknown people at his apartment @AsadAToor pic.twitter.com/5oawGU5qdU

— Adnan Hussain (@AdnanhussainAD) May 25, 2021

Journalist Shahbaz Zahid shared CCTV footage of Toor and alleged culprits behind the attack coming out of his apartment.

Bruised and beaten up @AsadAToor coming out of his home — injured. His mouth was stuffed with a cloth so that he wouldn’t scream while getting thrashed. His arms and legs were tied up too. https://t.co/F8myjtoH71 pic.twitter.com/0oPfDHaBwD

— Shahbaz Zahid (@shahbazzahid) May 25, 2021

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz also expressed concern in a tweet.

OMG! This is shocking! May Allah protect him. I hope he is out of danger. https://t.co/al8K7XVCht

— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) May 25, 2021

Last year, the journalist, Asad Ali Toor was booked on charges of spreading “negative propaganda” against the state and its institutions through his social media posts.

The complaint, registered by a resident of Rawalpindi named Ehtisham Ahmed, states that, "[Toor] spread negative propaganda and used derogatory language against the government institutions, including the Pakistan Army, which was a grave crime according to the law."

Toor has been booked under sections 505 (statements conducing to public mischief), 500 (punishment for defamation) and 499 (defamation) and of the Pakistan Penal Code and sections 37 (unlawful online content), 11 (hate speech) and 20 (offences against dignity of a person) of the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act 2016.