Journalist Raja Rukhsar takes National Press Club assault case to court

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 8 October 2025 |  JP Staff Report

Journalist Raja Rukhsar has filed a petition regarding an assault case involving Islamabad Police at the National Press Club. The incident has sparked widespread condemnation among journalists and advocacy groups.

Summary

ISLAMABAD —The Islamabad Police assault case at the National Press Club has now landed in court, after journalist Raja Rukhsar filed a petition seeking registration of a case through his counsel, Advocate Imaan Mazari.

The petition details the names and ranks of police officials allegedly involved in the assault and includes supporting evidence submitted before the court.

Advocate Imaan Mazari argued that the Press Club, long regarded as a “fortress of freedom of expression,” is no longer safe from what she termed police brutality. “The assault on journalists is an attempt to silence their voices, which is unacceptable,” she said.

Raja Rukhsar condemned the incident, calling it “the worst form of state violence.” He added, “I only expect justice from the courts.”

The incident at the National Press Club sparked widespread outrage among journalists and press freedom advocates, who condemned the police’s use of force inside a space meant to protect and represent the media community. The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and other media bodies have called for a transparent investigation and accountability of those involved.

Observers say the case will serve as a key test of how seriously the authorities take attacks on journalists in the country. Press freedom groups have urged the judiciary to ensure swift proceedings, warning that continued impunity for violence against journalists will only embolden future attacks.