On May 5, unidentified intruders burnt the car of Imtiaz Alam, current affairs editor for The News at his residence in Lahore. Mr. Alam had been receiving threats from unknown persons since last several months and the guards were deployed out side his residence.
Intruders removed the car from Mr. Alam’s garage on to the road where they set it afire while he was asleep. One of his neighbour saw his car inflames and informed the police. By the time police reached the spot, the car was completely burnt.
The guards were removed just a few days ago on Mr. Alam’s request. Mr. Alam expressed ignorance about the motives behind the incident and the identity of the culprits.
Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFU) All Pakistan Newspapers Photographers Association (APNPA) condemned the incident and will take out a procession on May 7 against attacks on freedom of press.
According to press reports, Alam frequently writes articles critical of government policy. Recently, he has been particularly critical of the ” accountability” process in Pakistan directed by Senator Saifur Rehman.
In another incident, Najam Sethi, chief editor of Friday Times was harassed by law enforcing agencies since being interviewed for “correspondent” program. According to press reports, senior government officials had warned him for his work with BBC team, terming it an attempt to destabilize the country and overthrow the government.
Recent reports on state-controlled television have accused Sethi of unpatriotic behavior and called for him to be held accountable for such actions. Sethi also received numerous threatening phone calls.
Another journalist, Ejaz Haider, news editor for the Friday Times received a handwritten, unsigned note warning him to put up bulletproof windows on his car.
Haider said he did not know what prompted this particular attack, but, added, he may have been targeted because he works at Sethi’s Friday Time.
Source: The News
Date:5/6/1999
