PFUJ slams police brutality against journalists at National Press Club
JournalismPakistan.com | Published 2 months ago | JP Staff Report
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ISLAMABAD — The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has strongly condemned the police’s violent raid and ransacking of the National Press Club (NPC) in Islamabad on Thursday. According to reports, a heavy contingent of police unlawfully entered the NPC premises, where they attacked journalists and staff members who had earlier covered a protest outside the club.
Eyewitnesses said the journalists were assaulted while they were having lunch in the cafeteria, exposing the excessive and unjustified use of force by the authorities.
In a strongly worded joint statement, PFUJ President Afzal Butt and Secretary Arshad Ansari described the police action as a “blatant disregard for the sanctity of the press club premises.”
“We demand an urgent inquiry into this incident and action against the police authorities and officers responsible for this despicable act,” the statement said. “If there were any complaints against journalists, the proper protocol would have been to seek permission from the NPC management before taking any action.”
The PFUJ leadership said the raid appeared to be an attempt to suppress media freedom and intimidate journalists. They demanded a judicial inquiry and immediate accountability of all police officials involved.
“We warn that if immediate action is not taken, we will be forced to call for countrywide protests,” the statement added. “All responsible police personnel should be arrested and held accountable for their actions.”
The PFUJ also urged the government to take urgent notice of the attack and implement concrete measures to safeguard the rights, security, and independence of journalists and media organizations across Pakistan.
