Police raid journalist Haroon Baloch's home without search warrants

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 25 February 2017 |  JP Staff Reporter

Police raided the home of journalist Haroon Baloch in Rawalpindi without search warrants. The raid was allegedly due to his surname, raising concerns about media safety.

Summary

RAWALPINDI – Punjab Police raided the house of journalist Haroon Baloch early Saturday barging in without search warrants.

Baloch, also a digital media trainer, told JournalismPakistan.com, a dozen gun-totting policemen, some in plainclothes, arrived at his residence in New Town around 12.30am.

“I asked for the search warrants but they had brought none. The SHO told me they had come looking for terrorists and that doing so does not require warrants,” Baloch said.

The journalist and his family have lived in the neighborhood for almost 30 years. There were women and other family members inside when the police arrived.

However, he said the search may have been prompted because of his surname Baloch.

It is not the first time law enforcers have invaded a journalist’s privacy. In January last year, Rangers raided the home of Salman Masood, The Nation Resident Editor in Islamabad. That too was conducted without search warrants.

KEY POINTS:

• Punjab Police conducted a raid on journalist Haroon Baloch's home.
• The raid occurred in the New Town area of Rawalpindi.
• Police entered without search warrants, claiming to seek terrorists.
• Baloch has lived in the area for nearly 30 years.
• This incident highlights ongoing issues with journalist safety in Pakistan.