Journalists’ bodies slam manhandling by police | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

Journalists’ bodies slam manhandling by police

KARACHI: The President, Ali Iqbal, Secretary Yusuf Khan, and the governing body of the Kararachi Press Club (KOPC) have condemned the manhandling of journalists by personnel of the law-enforcement agencies (LEA) when the deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif was produced hi an anti-terrorism court on Friday.

In a statement, they alleged that such “by the LEA personnel were aimed at curbing the freedom of the press. They asked General Pervez Musharraf to take note of such actions as he had already announced his commitment to press freedom. They also demanded that personnel responsible for the act should be arrested immediately.

The Karachi union of Journalists (KUJ), slating the action, said it was aimed at curbing the freedom of press, which was protected under Article 19 of the Constitution.

They alleged that in the past some months the police had harassed and physically assaulted a number of photographers performing their professional duties. The journalists and photographers had on September 11 observed black day against the police excesses and demanded registration of FIR against the erring officers, but none of the officials involved in manhandling journalists were subjected to any disciplinary action.

The KUJ office-bearers demanded of the CE to order for the arrest of all those who caused injuries to journalists and prevented them from performing their professional duties.

Meanwhile, President KUJ (Dastoori) Maqsood Yusufi and General Secretary Tariq Abul Hasan have demanded immediate suspension of DSP Mirza Abdul Majeed, Ayub Gabol and Inspector Saeed Tariq, who ordered for a baton charge.

The President of the Association of Court Reporters, Manzoor Abbas, Vice-President Akghar Anwar Awan, and General Secretary Arif Hashmi, have also condemned the police action.

Source: The News

Date:11/20/1999