Media houses, anchors provided security

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 15 October 2012

Authorities have increased security for media houses and television anchors due to Taliban threats. This follows a critical incident involving child rights activist Malala Yousufzai.

Summary

ISLAMABAD: Some leading media houses and television anchors have been provided security after the Taliban threatened attacks.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik said Monday additional police was deployed to guard the offices of media organizations and plainclothes policemen deputed to protect the anchors.

The Taliban are said to be planning attacks on the media after being criticized for their shooting and wounding of child rights activist Malala Yousufzai and two other girls in Mingora (Swat) on October 9.

Malik said homes of the anchors were also being guarded.

Last week, BBC Urdu, quoting a Ministry of Interior official it did not name, said a telephonic conversation between Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud and his operative Nadeem Abbas was intercepted by intelligence agencies.

In the conversation, Mehsud directs his man to attack international and national media organizations and journalists in major cities including Islamabad, Peshawar, Lahore and Karachi.

Malala, who was shot in the head, was flown to United Kingdom for treatment Monday.

In June four Taliban gunmen stormed the Karachi headquarters of Aaj TV that left a security guard and another employee injured – an attack the TTP said was carried out because of the channel’s ‘biasness’.

KEY POINTS:

• Media houses and anchors are now under police protection due to Taliban threats.
• Rehman Malik announced additional police and plainclothes officers for security.
• Threats were made following the shooting of Malala Yousufzai in Mingora.
• Intercepted communications revealed Taliban plans to target media organizations.
• Homes of prominent media figures are also being safeguarded.