Islamabad police barged into the National Press Club on Thursday in a bid to oust protesters of Kashmir’s Awami Action Committee, assaulting journalists and damaging property, prompting the government to offer an unconditional apology and assure an investigation into the incident.
The Awami Action Committee had organized a protest in the afternoon at the National Press Club to express support for ongoing demonstrations in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Shortly after the demonstrators gathered, police arrested them. Attempts to document the occurrence saw police turn their sights on journalists, with multiple attempts to snatch cameras and mobile phones.
After senior journalists urged police to exercise restraint against reporters, the police barged into the press club, claiming they were pursuing protesters sheltering within. During the assault, they attacked several journalists and smashed their equipment despite being informed no protester was on the premises.
In a statement, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) President Afzal Butt condemned the incident. He said police had broken furniture, assaulted employees and office holders, and even arrested some of the staff. Describing the aggression as unprecedented, he said even in dictatorships, police would wait outside press clubs for wanted persons rather than breaking into the building. He vowed that journalists would launch protests if the police responsible were not penalized for their actions.
Unconditional apology
Shortly after the incident, Minister of State for the Interior Talal Chaudhry reached the National Press Club and offered an unconditional apology for the incident. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, similarly, took notice of the incident and sought a report from the Islamabad police chief. He directed an immediate probe, disciplinary action against the cops responsible, and said there was zero tolerance for torture of journalists.
In a statement, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar vowed an impartial investigation and action against all those responsible for the incident.
Journalist bodies
In a joint statement, various journalist bodies strongly condemned the police raid, describing it an attack on press freedom and part of a wider campaign against journalists.
The Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), PFUJ, and Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors (AEMEND) denounced the assault, describing it as an act of “terrorism.” They said the incident was a continuation of the ongoing actions against media workers and demanded an end to smear campaigns, intimidation, and curbs on freedom of expression.
The statement maintained that the media had acted responsibly during times of conflict, safeguarding national interests and defending the country’s ideological frontiers. It also rejected attempts to equate reporters and freelancers with terrorists, saying such measures violated the principles of free journalism.
Vowing resistance at every level, the joint statement said the bodies would use all constitutional and legal options to oppose actions taken against the media.