Press Statement

PFUJ condemns police attack on journalists in Islamabad

29 Sep, 2024

Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) President GM Jamali, Secretary General Rana Muhammad Azeem, and executive council members have strongly condemned the torture and arrest of journalists while they were performing their duty to cover PTI worker’s protest at Islamabad Toll Plaza on Saturday. They demanded an investigation into the incident and action against responsible police personnel. The Punjab Police, which was posted at the toll plaza, severely tortured Geo News correspondent Haider Shirazi, Rizwan Shah, and others. Haider Shirazi sustained severe injuries.

The PFUJ leadership has strongly condemned the incident and termed it as an attack on press freedom and said that torturing journalists in such a way, establishing false cases against them, and using various tactics to prevent them from performing their duties is illegal, unjustified, and tantamount to restricting press freedom and freedom of expression which reminds of martial law regime.

The PFUJ leadership called upon the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Chief Minister Punjab, and IG Punjab to take immediate notice of this brutal behaviour of the police, take action against the responsible policemen and release the journalists immediately. Otherwise, journalist organisations nationwide will be forced to stage a protest.

 

Ihtsham-ul-Haq

Secretary Information PFUJ

Written By

IFJ Asia-Pacific IFJ Asia-Pacific

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