3 journalists critically injured in Bahawalpur Press Club attack

Armed men attacked the Bahawalpur Press Club; journalists blame district commissioner for perpetrating the attack.

BAHAWALPUR: Armed men attacked the Bahawalpur Press Club on Friday, critically injuring three journalists.

Fifteen other injured journalists were immediately moved to Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur, and discharged after being provided first aid. The three critically injured ones are in the hospital’s intensive care unit.

Witnesses told The Express Tribune that although police arrived within their response time, they did not intervene.

Masoodur Rehman, general secretary of the Bahawalpur Press Club, is among the critically injured and is unconscious.

The journalists blamed Bahawalpur Commissioner Muhammad Mushtaq for the attack as, they said, the district government is worried about independent journalism and has threatened media personnel before.

Jalal Bhatty, president of the Bahawalpur Press Club, told The Express Tribune that the attackers were following direct orders from Mushtaq. “We have always maintained independence in journalism and today, we are threatened by criminals,” he said.

Journalists have demanded that the Punjab government immediately suspend Mushtaq and ordered a judicial inquiry against him. They appealed to the Punjab chief minister to personally look into the matter.

Although journalists have submitted an application with the police, no FIR has yet been registered. “Police has special order from the district administration and this is evident from the fact that they have not even asked for a medical examination of injured journalists,” he said.

But Civil Lines Police SHO Tassaduq Abbas told The Express Tribune that an inquiry will be held and there is no administrative or political pressure.