JournalismPakistan.com | Published September 21, 2012 | JP Staff Reporter
Join our WhatsApp channel
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.
April 08, 2025: Journalist Arzoo Kazmi alleges that Pakistan's state agencies, including the FIA, have blocked her CNIC, passport, and bank account while threatening her. She calls it a direct attack on journalism.
November 28, 2024: Senior journalist Matiullah Jan has been abducted in Islamabad while investigating PTI protest deaths. Rights lawyers have filed a habeas corpus petition as charges of drug possession and terrorism spark outrage.
May 26, 2022: PTI supporters attack Jang/Geo offices in Islamabad & other cities amid D-Chowk protests—DSNG vans damaged, stones hurled amid anti-media slogans. Political-media tensions escalate.
May 16, 2022: Journalist Zahid Abbas Malik disappears in Lahore amid suspected agency involvement. PFUJ, press clubs demand action as nationwide protests loom over Pakistan's press freedom crisis.
April 30, 2022: DawnNews anchor Adil Shahzeb faces death threats & harassment, allegedly from PTI leaders. Journalists rally behind him as #JournalismIsNotACrime trends. Details on the escalating media safety crisis.
April 17, 2022: PTI supporters harass journalists, including women reporters, at Imran Khan's Karachi rally. Samaa TV's Zam Zam Saeed shares footage of abuse—cameraman injured, shirts torn. Media outcry grows.
March 15, 2022: Haripur Press Club President Zakir Tanoli attacked by masked assailants—struck with knives and pistol butts after chili powder assault. Journalists demand immediate action.
February 16, 2022: FIA arrests journalist Mohsin Jamil Baig after Islamabad raid over alleged cybercrime violations. The incident followed Murad Saeed's complaint under PECA 2016. Details on the confrontation and charges.
April 30, 2025 Freedom of expression in Pakistan is under threat, as the 2025 Freedom Network report reveals increased arrests, censorship, and legal restrictions following amendments to PECA, posing serious risks to journalists and democratic values.
April 30, 2025 Dawn has criticized the Indian media's calls for war and condemned the banning of 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, urging a rational response after the Pahalgam attack that left 26 dead.
April 28, 2025 India has banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, including major news outlets and individual journalists, following the deadly Pahalgam attack. Tensions escalate as Islamabad demands a neutral probe.
April 23, 2025 Discover Dr. Nauman Niaz’s In A Different Realm: Story of Quadruple & Triple Centuries 1876–2025, a profound exploration of cricket's most monumental innings, blending historical analysis with poetic narrative.
April 23, 2025 Pakistani journalists respond in unison to a post hinting at a possible Indian military strike. Citing the 2019 ‘Swift Retort,’ they warn of a stronger response if provoked again.