Police assault reporter during Jacobabad protest

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 22 January 2013 |  JP Staff Reporter

During a protest in Jacobabad, police assaulted reporter Rajib Ali Soomro, who later lost consciousness. The incident highlights increasing dangers faced by journalists in Pakistan.

Summary

JACOBABAD: Police assaulted a reporter covering a protest on Monday after a camp set up for the 12th Rabiul Awal celebrations caught fire, prompting a demonstration.

Rajib Ali Soomro, the reporter, fell unconscious due to the beating and was rushed to the hospital, according to reports. The policemen quickly disappeared from the scene. Ittehad Ahle-Sunnat, the group that established the camp, believed it was set on fire by anti-social elements.

Members of the District Union of Journalists Jacobabad, led by their president Ghulam Haider Magsi, have demanded action against the police officers involved in the assault. They have also called for the transfer of SSP Jacobabad, Muhammad Yunus Chandio, holding him accountable for the actions of his subordinates.

This incident highlights the growing concerns about the safety of journalists in Pakistan, particularly in volatile regions like Jacobabad. The journalists' union emphasizes the need for protection and justice for media personnel often on the front lines of reporting crucial events.