Attack on Matiullah Jan: PFUJ sets 24-hour deadline for arrest of assailants

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 25 September 2017

The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists has set a 24-hour deadline for the arrest of those who attacked journalist Matiullah Jan. The attack has sparked widespread protests and calls for action from various journalist unions.

Summary

ISLAMABAD – Afzal Butt, President of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) Monday called for arrest of perpetrators who attacked senior journalist Matiullah Jan Sunday in Bara Kahu neighborhood.

Addressing a protest organized by the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) at the National Press Club, he said attacks on journalists had become a routine.

Butt warned that if the assailants were not arrested, the PFUJ would announce its next course of action. He termed the attack on Matiullah as an attack on the entire journalist fraternity.

Matiullah was heading to his ancestral home when around 4:00pm the attackers on two motorcycles tossed a brick on his car’s windshield while negotiating a turn. He and his family escaped unhurt.

Prominent presenter Hamid Mir said that the voice of journalists could not be suppressed through such cowardly acts.

Mubarak Zeb Khan, President of RIUJ made it clear his union would not stay silent on this attack until the attackers were put bars.

President of National Press Club, Shakeel Anjum pointed out that journalists needed to focus on taking practical measures and to follow up on what is decided at protest rallies.