Security guards of former prime minister attack television cameraman -
Pakistan Press Foundation

Security guards of former prime minister attack television cameraman

Pakistan Press Foundation

Wajid Ali, cameraman of “Samaa TV” was attacked by security guards of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif outside the Parliament House in Pakistan capital city of Islamabad in the evening of December 17.

The incident occurred when Ali was covering the departure of Sharif from Parliament House after co-chairing a meeting of senior leaders of the opposition political party, Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz).

Usman Cheema, another cameraman of Samaa TV who was also present told Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) that, when Ali was making footage of the former premier, his camera hit the shoulder of chief security officer by mistake.  The officer got angry and ordered other guards to catch Ali and teach him a lesson. The guards than pushed the cameraman who fell to the ground and started bleeding from his nose and mouth.

The guard then kicked his face and Ali became unconscious.

The journalists present there took the cameraman to nearby hospital where doctors asked to shift him to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) as they do not have the facility of CT scan. He was then admitted to PIMS for treatment.

The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) along with National Press Club and Parliament Reporters Association staged a protest demonstration outside the Parliament House and demanded immediate legal action against the attacker.

Information Minister, Fawad Chaudhry also condemned the incident and said legal action will be taken against those responsible.

Later talking to reporters, former prime minister Sharif assured such incident will not happen again in future. He, however, defended his guard by saying although the guard pushed Ali, the cameraman retaliated by hitting the guard on his forehead with his camera.

Criminal cases of assault and intimidation have been registered against three security guards.  Police have arrested two security guards while one managed to escape.

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