On Monday 24 January 2000, armed men barged into the offices of the Sindhi daily “Halchal” and proceeded to manhandle staff and ransack the office. According to reports, armed persons allegedly belonging to the Asif Ali Zardari Release Committee, forced their entry into the office and threatened the staff members with dire consequences for publishing […]
On Monday 24 January 2000, armed men barged into the offices of the Sindhi daily “Halchal” and proceeded to manhandle staff and ransack the office.
According to reports, armed persons allegedly belonging to the Asif Ali Zardari Release Committee, forced their entry into the office and threatened the staff members with dire consequences for publishing news that criticised a member of their party. The miscreants manhandled and injured three of the journalists, and then fled.
Late on Monday night, the newspaperâs bureau chief, Mansoor Lakho, lodged an FIR (First Information Report or criminal complaint) with the police against the Asif Ali Zardari Release Committee.
Retired Governor Air Marshal Azim Daudpota stated that the government believes in freedom of press and it expects all civil sectors to observe civilized values. Daudpota expressed concern over the report of hooliganism at the “Halchal” office. Condemning the incident, he issued directives to initiate an enquiry into the matter and bring the responsible people to justice.
President Maqsood Yousufi and General Secretary Tariq Abul Hasan of the Karachi Union of Journalists have also condemned the attack on the “Halchal” office. Observing that members of a political group were involved in the attack, they said that political activists should not try to suppress the press.
