ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) strongly condemned the brutal torture of Editor “Changari” by activists of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in Mirpur, a district Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
The political workers of the PML-N attacked the office of local newspaper in Mirpur and destroyed the furniture and electronic equipments in the office.
Mehmood Mirza, the editor “Chnagri” Mirpur, was dragged out from the office to centre of busiest market in city and thrashed with sticks. The blank ink was glued on the face of Mehmood Mirza. Moreover, the assailants were threatening to kill him but local traders intervened to save the journalist life.
Following the incident, police registered the first information report (FIR) against the culprits.
The President PFUJ Afzal Butt expressed shock and sorrow over the incident and termed it heinous act to intimidate journalists.
“Azad Jammu and Kashmir is most peaceful area in Pakistan and journalists are respected widely but wave of violence has now triggered by local influential to snub media men with force. It is an open attempt to target the media person to bar him from his professional duties, it is indeed shocking and not acceptable at any cost,” said Afzal Butt.
The President PFUJ asked the AJK government to take notice of brutality and provide justice to victim by immediate arrest of nominated persons.
“Entire media community flays the act to target a journalist for his reporting during recent by election in area. It is simplest violence against Media and will not be tolerated, Police should arrest the culprits in earliest,” he demanded.
The Rawalpindi Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) convened an emergency meeting to condemn the atrocity against local Editor of Newspaper during which the President RIUJ Ali Raza Alvi and General Secretary Bilal Dar demanded the arrest of perpetrators of use of force against a journalist in AJK.
They said such acts will not be tolerable, the AJK government must act timely to avert such violent incidents in future and to discourage enemies of media and freedom of expression.
