Express Tribune reporter assaulted, attackers warn him to 'be careful'

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 21 September 2012 |  JP Staff Reporter

KARACHI—Noman Ahmed, a reporter with The Express Tribune in Karachi, was badly beaten up Thursday reportedly by accomplices of a former Nazim.

The incident occurred on the Baloch Colony flyover when four men in a silver car intercepted him and two of them beat him black and blue, the Tribune reported Friday.

“They kicked and punched me around the head and face; I fell. There were people watching too,” the paper quoted Noman as saying. Despite the presence of witnesses, no one intervened to stop the assault.

The paper said the attackers warned him to be “careful in future, otherwise, we will not spare you.” This threatening message has raised concerns about the safety of journalists in the region, particularly those investigating or reporting on local political figures and their activities.

The Tipu Sultan Police registered an FIR but did not make any serious effort to arrest the attackers. This apparent lack of action has drawn criticism from various journalist associations and human rights organizations, who are calling for a thorough investigation and accountability for those involved.

The car used in the attack is registered to Chaudhry Muhammad Shareef, a former Nazim of UC 2 in Maznoor Colony, the Tribune said. The involvement of individuals connected to a former political figure has added a layer of complexity to the case, suggesting possible motives linked to Noman Ahmed's reporting activities.

The assault on Noman Ahmed underscores the ongoing threats faced by journalists in Pakistan, where reporting on powerful figures can often lead to violent reprisals. The journalistic community has demanded justice and increased protection for reporters to ensure they can carry out their duties without fear of violence.