Journalist among two kidnapped | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

Journalist among two kidnapped

SUKKAR: Five armed men in Old Sukkar kidnapped two people, including a journalist, on March 4, 2004.

The armed man kidnapped six persons when they were playing badminton in Waspur locality of the city.

The area people chased after the kidnappers, compelling them to free four boys after an exchange of fire. The bandits, however, took away the two towards the Shah Belo forest.

They were identified as Shahbaz Pathan and Naveed Mangi.

Shahbaz is the bureau chief of daily Halchal and brother of Lala Asad Pathan, general secretary of Sukkar Press Club.

An emergency meeting of journalists were held in the Sukkar Press Club on March 4, 2004, in which they unanimously adopted a resolution, demanding an early recovery of the hostage.

The resolution warned that if the kidnappers victims were not released the journalists would launch a protest movement against the police.

A delegation of journalists also met with the senior police officials and lodged their resentment over the incident.

It might be mentioned that Lala Asad Pathan had recorded a documentary about the activities of bandits in the Shah Belo forest, considered to be a safe heaven for bandits.

The documentary went on air last week on Dubai-based satellite TV channel.

Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists president Ahfazur Rehman through a fax message on March 4, 2004, expressed his concern over the incident.

He said journalists in Sindh had been subjected to killing, torture, harassment and kidnapping. He recalled that two journalists were murdered whose killers had not been arrested yet.

Mr. Rehman said it seemed outlaws were ruling Sindh.

He demanded that high-ups should take action against such activities and recovers the kidnapped journalist, otherwise, the PFUJ would launch a movement across the country.
Source: Dawn
Date:3/6/2004