Army personnel charged for assaulting journalist
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the global organisation representing over 500,000 journalists in more than 110 countries, has condemned the violent attack and torture of a news photographer by personnel from the National Logistic Cell (NLC), a division of Pakistan’s army.
On September 15, Daily Express Faisalabad photographer and executive member of the Faisalabad Union of Journalists, Asadullah, was attacked after taking photos of a youth being beaten by NLC personnel at a busy intersection outside Chiniot bazaar.
“The IFJ is outraged by this attack. It is abhorrent that journalists continue to be the victims of brutal treatment at the hands of authorities,”
said IFJ President Christopher Warren.
“A free, independent media cannot flourish while such attacks continue to occur. The government must provide for the security of journalists, particularly photojournalists,” said the IFJ President.
NLC personnel took Asadullah to their camp office, took his camera and violently beat him. The photographer was also threatened with death.
When confronted by other journalists who visited the site after hearing of the incident, NLC personnel verbally abused the journalists.
According to IFJ sources, local police arrested two NLC personnel after Asadullah and other journalists alerted them about the incident. The district police chief has ordered the case be registered and the arrested NLC personnel charged for threatening the photographer with dire consequences, torture and illegal detention.
The IFJ applauds the Pakistani police for their swift intervention and encourages them to continue to do all they can to stamp out press freedom violations.
Source: International Freedom of Expression (IFEX)
Date:9/20/2005
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