(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders (RSF) protests strongly against an attack by supporters of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML-QA) on Peshawar’s press club, in which several journalists and others were injured. RSF deplored the 29 June 2006 attack on what it called a “symbolic and traditionally peaceful place” by people who were “easy to […]
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders (RSF) protests strongly against an attack by supporters of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML-QA) on Peshawar’s press club, in which several journalists and others were injured.
RSF deplored the 29 June 2006 attack on what it called a “symbolic and traditionally peaceful place” by people who were “easy to identify”, and called for them to be arrested and punished. “At this delicate time after journalist Hayatullah Khan’s murder, it is very important that journalists are protected when doing their job,” the worldwide press freedom organisation said.
The party militants attacked the building during a press conference given by three dissident party figures. Journalists offered to let them speak after the dissidents, but they rejected the offer and set about journalists, employees and dissident supporters with sticks and AK47 rifles. Police arrested six of the attackers and seized their weapons.
The press club has been attacked before, but this was the first time it was done by supporters of the ruling party. Local journalists said it was an attempt to stop the press doing its job, especially from investigating Khan’s murder. Press Club President Syed Bukhar Shah told RSF it was “an act of terrorism.”
The journalists have initiated legal action against the attackers under the anti-terrorist law and also filed a complaint against Federal Minister of Political Affairs Amir Muqaam, who is head of the provincial branch of the PML-QA, and Nighat Orakzai, one of the party’s provincial MPs.
Meanwhile, journalists Khalil Afridi, of the Urdu-language daily “Khabrian”, Sudhir Afridi, of the daily “Frontier Post”, and Abu Zar Afridi, of the Urdu-language daily “Express”, were held for a day on 26 June by the authorities in the Khyber Tribal Area. They had just interviewed a religious leader sought by the security services (see IFEX alert of 30 June 2006).
Finally, Asif Wadood, an investigative reporter for the Urdu-language daily “Aaj”, was summoned by officials of the provincial chief minister’s office in Peshawar on 16 June after revealing details of the budget of the province, which is run by the Islamist MMA party. They tried to make him reveal his sources, but he refused.
