Islamabad police stormed the National Press Club on Thursday, vandalising its cafeteria and reportedly assaulting journalists inside after mistaking them for protesters.
According to reports, police personnel carried out the raid and subjected media workers present inside the premises to violence.
Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) Secretary-General Arshad Ansari strongly condemned the incident, calling it an “attack” on journalists.
He urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to take immediate action, adding that the assault amounted to open “thuggery” in the federal capital. He demanded cases against and arrests of the officers involved.
Ansari said the incident created the impression that the press club had turned into a police compound rather than a space for journalists.
Separately, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) denounced the raid, expressing deep concern over the use of force against journalists. In a statement, the rights body demanded an immediate inquiry and accountability for those responsible.
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