Medics attack Samaa TV crew at Lahore General Hospital

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 29 May 2012 |  JP Staff Reporter

A group of young medics and hospital staff allegedly assaulted a Samaa TV crew at Lahore General Hospital while they were filming a family’s complaint. The crew’s camera was snatched and the journalists suffered bruises and cuts. The report also recalls recent and past attacks on journalists in Pakistan.

Summary

LAHORE—A group of young medics and hospital staff beat up a Samaa TV crew that was filming inside the Lahore General Hospital Tuesday with permission from the DMS.

According to reports, Reporter Jahangir Khan and his crew were set upon by the medics while they were filming a family complaining about the misbehavior of a doctor and medical staff of the hospital. Sources said about 20 young medics suddenly appeared on the scene and at first tried to prevent the crew from getting the information they needed, then manhandled them before finally beating them. The medics also snatched the crew’s camera. The crew are said to be safe now but carry bruises and cuts from the beating they suffered. Earlier this month, three journalists were beaten by police officers in north-west Pakistan. Sher Ali Khan from NewsOne TV, Siraj Ali of Geo, and Shabbir Ahmed from Pakhtunkhwa News Daily were targeted by police officers while trying to cover a demonstration in the Charsadda district of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhuwa province. Police snatched their cameras in an attempt to destroy the footage. All three reporters sustained injuries with Khan having to be admitted in hospital. Last year, some media persons were beaten up at Lahore’s Jinnah Hospital by medical staff as well.

KEY POINTS:

• Samaa TV reporter Jahangir Khan and crew were attacked while filming inside Lahore General Hospital.
• The crew was reportedly filming with permission from the DMS when medics intervened.
• Around 20 medics allegedly manhandled and beat the crew and snatched their camera.
• The journalists are safe but sustained bruises and cuts.
• The article notes similar recent incidents involving assaults on journalists in Pakistan.