Afghan protesters attack Geo crew outside Pakistan High Commission
JournalismPakistan.com | Published: 25 July 2021
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A protest by Afghan nationals outside the Pakistan High Commission in London escalated into violence against a Geo News team. The demonstration sought justice for the kidnapped daughter of the Afghan ambassador.Summary
LONDON—A group of Afghan nationals held a protest outside Pakistan High Commission in London on Friday afternoon, which turned violent when some demonstrators attacked a Geo News reporting team, Geo News reported.
“The Watan Group" had organized the protest to seek justice for the daughter of the Afghan ambassador to Pakistan who was allegedly briefly kidnapped in Islamabad two weeks ago. Around 50 protestors took part and raised slogans against Pakistan.
There were three incidents of violence. At the start, a protestor punched the Geo News reporter and hit his phone as he filmed the protest. Immediately after that, the reporter called the police and informed them of the attack.
Shortly before the police arrived, around five protestors marched across the road where Pakistani media were present. One of the protestors punched the Geo News correspondent, injuring and fracturing his thumb and making the phone fall to the ground.
Minutes later, a Pakistani student, Ehtesham Hasan, 20, who argued with the protestors peacefully, was cornered in Knightsbridge. Geo News cameraman Naseer Ahmed, who was filming the incident, was also attacked by three protestors who broke Geo’s logo and mic and beat him up in the presence of witnesses.
Around a dozen Scotland Yard officers reached the protest venue after a complaint was made to the police about the attack. The police took statements from the Geo News crew.
After watching the CCTV camera footage, the police confirmed that a violent attack had taken place and that it was unprovoked.
Photo courtesy: pak5news.tv
KEY POINTS:
- The protest took place outside the Pakistan High Commission in London.
- Demonstrators attacked the Geo News reporting team during the event.
- The protest was organized by the Watan Group seeking justice for a kidnapping.
- Several incidents of violence were reported, resulting in injuries.
- Scotland Yard officers responded to the scene and confirmed the unprovoked attack.
