Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) is alarmed and outraged over the violent raid by police into the National Press Club in Islamabad and the assault on journalists at the press club premises. The incident was an attack on the sanctity and autonomy of the press club in Pakistan’s federal capital. It is entirely unacceptable, and the police must work towards protecting media professionals rather than becoming the source of their intimidation and assault.
PPF calls for the Islamabad Police officials to be held responsible so that such a brazen attack on the media does not happen again.
Footage shared on social media and by media outlets showed police manhandling, pushing, and shoving journalists inside the press club premises.
On October 2, a demonstration was held outside the press club in support of the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee, during which police had assaulted protestors. According to Dawn, police officials entered the press club and attacked journalists in an attempt to nab some protestors who had taken refuge in the press club premises.
Journalists were documenting the events, and the police tried to stop them by snatching their cameras and phones, The News reported. When some journalists asked the police to stop manhandling journalists, the police forced open the press club doors, including climbing the walls to enter. As per the report, the police continued attacking them, including throwing cameras to the ground and assaulting media professionals.
Police also entered the press club’s kitchen, breaking crockery and detaining two press club employees for a short period. Two photographers and three press club staff members were injured, Express Tribune reported.
Speaking to PPF, Daily Khabrain reporter Adil Abbas shared that he was in the press club cafe with his colleague Raja Rukhsar. Abbas said he suffered head injuries, while Rukhsar was also severely beaten and injured.
Rawalpindi Islamabad Union of Journalists President Tariq Virk spoke to PPF and shared that two separate protests were held outside the National Press Club — one in support of the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee, and the other concerning Palestine and the arrest of former senator Mushtaq Ahmed and others onboard the Global Sumud Flotilla. The citizens were peacefully protesting, and journalists were present to cover the event at the press club, Virk shared. However, the police arrived and started charging batons at the protesters, breaching the press club premises and assaulting journalists inside. Virk added that the police brutally beat one of the press club office staff, Rashid, and many camerapersons were mistreated, resulting in damaged cameras. Following the incident, the journalists held a rally demanding justice and an inquiry.
The attack on the press club has been widely condemned.
The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) issued a statement announcing that October 3 would be declared a “black day.” PFUJ President Afzal Butt and General Secretary Arshad Ansari said that the Islamabad Police’s action of violating the sanctity of the press club was akin to an attack on all journalists in Pakistan.
In a joint press release, the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), PFUJ, and Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors (AEMEND) strongly condemned the incident. They termed it an “act of terrorism,” urging the government to take action against those responsible.
Karachi Press Club President Fazil Jamili condemned the incident and said that the act demands full accountability.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has ordered an inquiry into the raid, and Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry visited the press club and apologized for the police incursion.
