Journalists and media professionals were manhandled during the raid on Pervaiz Elahi’s residence.
The manhandling of media professionals during the late-night raid on former Chief Minister of Punjab Parvez Elahi‘s residence in Lahore, Punjab on April 29, 2023.
As per The News, a heavy contingent of police, along with the ACE officials, raided Elahi‘s house in the wee hours of the morning. An armoured personnel carrier (APC) of police broke the main gate of the residence after the people inside the house resisted the law enforcers and tried to stop the arrest. Police claim that stones were pelted at them, which injured police personnel and journalists covering the incident.
During the raid, Iqbal Sandhu, the cameraman for Hum News, and Mohsin Bilal, correspondent for Raftar News, were manhandled by the police officials.
Shiraz Hasnat, bureau chief of Hum News told PPF that Sandhu was seriously injured when a big stone hit his head, and he is currently hospitalized at Bibi Fatimah hospital. DSNG of Hum News was also damaged by the police officials.
Saifullah Cheema, correspondent of Dawn News, who was also covering the raid, told PPF that numerous other media professionals were also manhandled, which is a highly condemnable act.
Mohsin Bilal, correspondent of Raftar News, stated that this incident shows the routine disregard for journalists’ safety during such events.
Rana Azeem, general secretary of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, also condemned the behavior of the Anti-Corruption Police, while Abdul Majid Sajid, general secretary of Lahore Press Club, urged authorities to ensure journalists’ safety during such raids.
This is not the first time journalists have faced baton charges and stoning by the police. In the past, media professionals faced violence and attacks during the Zaman Park incident.
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