Karachi police attacked several reporters and photographers, beat them severely, and snatched and smashed their cameras on 20 September 1996. The journalists were covering the events that unfolded on the night of 20 September, when Murtaza Bhutto, brother of Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and head of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP-Shaheed Bhutto), a breakaway […]
Karachi police attacked several reporters and photographers, beat
them severely, and snatched and smashed their cameras on 20
September 1996. The journalists were covering the events that
unfolded on the night of 20 September, when Murtaza Bhutto,
brother of Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and head of the
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP-Shaheed Bhutto), a breakaway faction
of the ruling party, and his six colleagues were killed in an
encounter with police in Clifton, a district south of Karachi.
According to press reports, soon after the encounter between
Murtaza Bhutto’s men and police, the journalists tried to rush to
the hospital where the seriously injured Murtaza Bhutto was taken.
However, the journalists were beaten up by highly charged
policemen. According to a report by the daily “Dawn”, a senior
police officer ordered his force to “Catch these bastards. Make
sure no one of them could run. Snatch their cameras and
everything.” According to a report in “The News”, one of the
police officers ordered his force to open fire at journalists
should they ignore his orders and advance.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to Pakistani authorities:
including police officers and para-military rangers – against
journalists covering the events as attacks on press freedom and
human rights
immediately recover their confiscated equipment
Appeals To
Her Excellency Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto
Office of the Prime Minister
Islamabad, Pakistan
Fax: +92 51 821 574 or via Ministry of Education +92 51 825 835
His Excellency President Farooq Ahmad Ken Leghari
Office of the President
Constitution Avenue
Islamabad, Pakistan
Fax: +92 51 811 390/+92 51 816 060 69
Please copy appeals to the originator if possible.
