Bilawal demands action over attack on Balochistan journalist

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 20 September 2026 |  JP Staff Report

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari condemned the alleged assault on senior Balochistan journalist Naseer Ahmed Kakar and called for legal action. He reiterated PPP support for press freedom as local press groups demanded accountability and police reportedly filed a case.

Summary

QUETTA — Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has condemned the alleged assault on senior Balochistan journalist Naseer Ahmed Kakar and called for legal action against those responsible, adding a national political voice to demands for accountability from journalists' organizations across the province.

Bilawal described journalists as the country's "fourth pillar" and said obstruction, violence, or pressure directed at them while they perform their professional duties was a serious concern. He said the PPP supported press freedom and journalists' right to work in a safe and independent environment.

Bilawal adds pressure for legal action

The PPP chairman's statement did not provide details of the alleged assault. Earlier accounts from the Quetta Press Club and the Balochistan Union of Journalists identified Kakar as the bureau chief of UNA News Agency. They said he and four companions had been invited to help resolve a domestic dispute. The groups alleged that they were assaulted after arriving and were threatened with serious consequences.

Police reportedly registered a case at Gawalmandi Police Station against a man identified in the press groups' accounts. The reports reviewed did not provide an FIR number, identify the legal provisions invoked, say whether an arrest had been made, or include a response from the person accused.

Press groups rally behind Kakar

The incident has prompted a broader response from journalists in Balochistan. On September 19, the Khuzdar Press Club called the assault an attack on press freedom and urged the provincial government and police to ensure the people responsible were arrested and prosecuted.

Journalists also demonstrated outside the City Press Club in Uthal on September 19. Participants from the City Press Club and National Press Club Uthal demanded arrests, legal proceedings and stronger protection for journalists.

Bilawal framed the case as a journalist-safety and press-freedom concern. The public accounts reviewed, however, do not establish that the alleged assault was prompted by Kakar's reporting or occurred while he was covering a story. Determining the motive and full circumstances remains a matter for the police investigation.

The statements and protests issued in Quetta, Khuzdar and Uthal show that the case has moved beyond an individual complaint and become a wider concern for Balochistan's press community. With a case reportedly registered, attention now turns to whether police disclose the allegations formally, identify the applicable charges, and provide a clear update on the investigation.

ATTRIBUTION: Based on a public statement attributed to Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and published by UNA and Daily Qudrat on September 20, 2026. Incident details are based on a joint statement from the Quetta Press Club and the Balochistan Union of Journalists, along with subsequent local reporting dated September 16-19, 2026.

PHOTO: AI-generated; for illustrative purposes only.