PFUJ condemns Police raid on newspaper office
Peshawar–Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has strongly condemned the raid carried out by police on a newspaper office in Peshawar and manhandling of journalists.
The incident took place on Saturday afternoon when some personnel from Faqirabad and Hashtnagri police stations arrived at the office of Daily Mashriq, a leading Urdu newspaper of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in their mobile vans and thrashed two of its security guards when they tried to stop them from entering the premises. There had been reports of gunfire in the locality and the police, who rushed to the scene, believed the culprits were hiding in the office. According to media reports, the firing incident had taken place 40 minutes before the raid and the suspects had already been arrested from Canal Road area. The police personnel then manhandled three reporters Wasif, Sohrab Khan and Fayyaz who confronted them for beating up the security guards.
Later the journalists staged demonstration and blocked G.T. Road for half an hour. They ended their protest after senior police officials assured them that action would be taken against the concerned policemen.
In a statement, PFUJ President Pervaiz Shaukat demanded of the Peshawar police high ups to immediately suspend the accused policemen and take disciplinary action against them. He also demanded an inquiry into the incident. PFUJ Secretary-General Amin Yousuf said those who were supposed to protect citizens were themselves resorting to violence. He said the manner in which the journalists were treated by the policemen was regrettable and demanded strict action against them. He said the police high ups should rein in their personnel.
In a statement, Khyber Union of Journalists (KhUJ) said it was seriously concerned at the police attitude.
“During the past few months several incidents of police torture against media people have taken place. Every-time police high ups and the top government functionaries assure to properly interrogate the incident and take action against those involved, but no action has been taken in any incident,” it said. Meanwhile, Khyber Union of Journalists also staged a protest demonstration against the torture of journalists and media workers outside the Peshawar Press Club.
Source: Pakistan Observer
Date:8/9/2011
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