Paramilitary Frontier Corps personnel detain and manhandle journalist
Munir Noor, Khuzdar reporter of Samaa TV and Daily Messenger, Karachi was detained and manhandled by paramilitary Frontier Corps (FC) personnel in Khuzdar,Balochistan, on Sunday, June 13, 2010 as he tried to cover the funeral of two students shot dead by armed attackers on Saturday June 12.
Noor told PPF that while he was going to the funeral on his motorcycle, the FC personnel stopped him. They used abusive language and slapped him on his face. They also snatched camera from his companion Abdul Latif. They detained him in their vehicle and when Noor tried to make a phone call to authorities, the FC personnel also snatched his mobile phone and beat him up. They released him after half an hour after talking to their senior officers. Noor received bruises on his head, face, shoulder and back. On his request they also returned his mobile phone and camera.
Noor further said that Shahid Rind, Quetta Bureau Chief of Samaa TV informed him that Major General Saleem Nawaz, Inspector General FC Balochistan has tendered an apology over the incident. Noor said an FC spokesman Murtaza Baig also contacted him and offered an apology.
Muhammad Khan Sasoli, president of Khuzdar press club told PPF that a meeting held in the press club had strongly condemned the high handedness of FC personnel.
The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has condemned the FC personnel for their excesses towards media persons in Balochistan and for preventing them from discharging their professional duties. The PFUJ demanded of the federal government and the Interior Ministry to take steps for ensuring safety of media persons in Balochistan.
Source: Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)
Date:6/15/2010
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