Police torture: Protests erupt to condemn violence against journalists

Several media persons attacked, equipment and vans damaged

ISLAMABAD/HANGU/SUKKUR:

A full-fledged assault was launched against journalists by security officials in Islamabad on Sunday morning. Several media personnel were attacked and their equipment and vans were badly damaged.

The recent attacks come after journalists were tortured and baton-charged on Saturday night during the protests of Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) outside the Prime Minister House.

Journalists from across the country staged protests. They urged the government to take action against the police officials responsible for the tragedy.

‘Shameful act’

Pakistan Federal Union of Journalist (PFUJ), journalists from Islamabad and Rawalpindi held a protest outside National Press Club (NPC) and demanded the inspector general of the police to take action against officials who were responsible for the violence.

According to the journalist community, the Islamabad and Punjab police deliberately targeted media personnel to stop them from providing live coverage to viewers.

Speaking on the occasion, PFUJ president Afzal Butt insisted that journalists were victimised for performing their professional duties.

“All responsible police officers should be booked to task otherwise journalists will start a countrywide protest,” he added.

“This is a shameful act by the Punjab and Islamabad police that shows how the government has failed to protect journalists,” president of the Rawalpindi Islamabad Union of Journalist (RIUJ) Shaharyar Khan said.

In the line of duty

Journalists from Orakzai Agency staged a protest in conjunction with the Hangu Press Club and announced boycotted the activities of the PTI. The protest was held outside Hangu Press Club on Sunday.

Journalists in Risalpur also condemned the arbitrary use of force by the Punjab and Islamabad police use of force against journalists. Union president Muhammad Atiq said that the media is the fourth pillar of state which can weaken the entire state structure if it is tampered with.

Moreover, journalists of Tank Press Club also held a protest rally denouncing the police action against journalists in Islamabad. The protest was led by the club’s president Tariq Marwat in which a large number of journalists were present who were holding banners and placards.

Sukkur protests

Throughout Upper Sindh, journalists also staged protest to voice their objections against the police torture in Islamabad.

Several journalists and members of civil society in the Sukkur came together under the banner of Sukkur Union of Journalists to voice their reservations.

The protesting journalists termed the police action as a form of state terrorism.

Furthermore, the journalist community vehemently blamed the ruling party for sending their miscreants to harass peaceful marchers and journalists. They added that media coverage of the Islamabad sit-in had exposed the heinous face of Sharif brothers. As a result, journalists – who had no political agenda and were merely doing their job – were attacked by the police.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 1^st, 2014.