Press Statement

PAKISTAN: Journalists injured in Muzaffarabad Press Club attack

31 Oct, 2019

Several journalists were injured after police attacked a press club in Muzaffarabad in Pakistan Administered Kashmir on October 22. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its affiliate Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) criticize police actions in the incident in raiding the press club.

Local police raided a press club in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan Administered Kashmir (PAK). The press club was holding a media briefing by Jammu Kashmir People’s National Alliance (JKPNA). Police fired tear gas shells, used batons and destroyed journalists’ recording equipment in the raid. A number of protesters and journalists also sustained injuries.

PFUJ President GM Jamli and General Secretary Rana Muhammad Azeem condemned police brutality and termed the action a “direct attack on freedom of the media”.The PFUJ demanded the government take action against the responsible police to ensure such incidents are not repeated.

The IFJ said: “Police must refrain from targeting and obstructing the press. We call on the authorities to investigate the police conduct in the raid on the press club in Muzaffarabad.”

Written By

IFJ Asia-Pacific IFJ Asia-Pacific

The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 140 countries.
For further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +61 2 9333 0946
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