(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has again condemned the use of violence by police against journalists after a total of seven Pakistani journalists were injured while covering protests in Lahore on 17 March 2007 against the dismissal of the Supreme Court president. Photographer Rana Shehzad of the Urdu-language daily “Jinnah” reportedly fell from the first […]
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has again condemned the use of violence by police against journalists after a total of seven Pakistani journalists were injured while covering protests in Lahore on 17 March 2007 against the dismissal of the Supreme Court president.
Photographer Rana Shehzad of the Urdu-language daily “Jinnah” reportedly fell from the first floor of the Lahore courthouse after being pushed by police, and was said to be in serious condition. Dawn TV cameraman Zeeshan Butt sustained head injuries from being beaten with a police baton and was given eight stitches. Police also inflicted injuries on Geo TV reporter Mudassar Butt and his cameraman, Mohammad Afaq.
Police beat “Daily Times” reporter Rana Tanveer and confiscated his press card. They attacked a photographer identified only as Shah and took his camera and mobile phone. Afsar Khan, a cameraman with state-owned PTV, was attacked by a lawyer who supports the Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) as he was filming in the Lahore courthouse.
The following day, police arrested dozens of journalists who had gathered in Bahwaknagar, in the south of the Punjab province, to protest against the use of violence against their colleagues in Islamabad and Lahore.
A dozen or so policemen and one senior police officer were suspended following the violent raids on Geo TV and several newspapers. President Pervez Musharraf apologised to Geo TV and said he would do his best to ensure that those responsible were punished.
The authorities have also told Geo TV that it can resume broadcasting the programme “Aaj Kamran Khan Saath.”
