Police barge into government apartments in use by journos
JournalismPakistan.com | Published: 9 May 2019
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Islamabad Police forcibly entered government apartments occupied by journalists, damaging property and detaining a BOL News correspondent. Tensions escalated as the journalists accused the Federal Housing Minister of orchestrating the incident.Summary
ISLAMABAD – Islamabad Police on Thursday barged into the government apartments in use by at least three journalists, threw their furniture and belongings out, and briefly detained a correspondent for BOL News.
Shakeel Qarar, President of National Press Club, accused the Federal Housing Minister Tariq Bashir Cheema of this action.
Reports said that police harassed and beat up journalists, causing damage to stuff belonging to Shahid Maitla of BOL News. Police later detained him for some time.
Television footage showed Maitla being forcefully taken down a staircase by three policemen.
The police also pushed and shoved Shakeel Qarar, who was at the scene.
The journalists residing at the lodges had been receiving notices from the housing ministry to vacate the apartments.
The journalists claimed the minister had developed a grudge against one of them that led to the action.
KEY POINTS:
- Police barged into journalists' government apartments in Islamabad.
- Correspondent from BOL News was detained and property damaged.
- National Press Club president accused a minister of leading the operation.
- Journalists received eviction notices from the housing ministry.
- Incident raised concerns over journalist safety and harassment.
