ISLAMABAD: Demanding prompt response from Information Minister, Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) lawmakers on Thursday deplored the attack on media persons while covering former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s homegoing rally.
Calling for attention towards the brutal attack on media, PPP legislators in a notice said: “Such incidents are highly condemnable and totally unacceptable.”
The notice submitted to the secretary National Assembly secretariat signed by PPP legislators Dr Nafisha Shah, Shahida Rehmani, Imran Zafar Leghari, Mohammad Ayaz Soomro, Shazia Marri, Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani and Shazia Sobia.
It merits to mention here that Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) activists on Wednesday allegedly harassed and assaulted two journalists of a private news channel who were covering the former primer’s rally besides attacking ARY News van on early Wednesday morning.
Safdar Klasra and a female reporter of a television channel were assaulted after reportedly filming an ambulance stranded in traffic due to the rally of deposed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
The incident occurred near Faizabad where two journalists were harassed and assaulted by enraged PML-N activists. The female reporter was also intimidated and shoved around, while her mobile phone was confiscated and only returned after the video was deleted.
Earlier PML-N activists also attempted to attack ARY News DSNG van near Faizabad, but police intervened to push rally participants away for the time being.
Police officials informed the ARY team that rally participants could again attack the DSNG van and staffers of the channel. PML-N activists also threatened the ARY News reporter and tried to snatch his cell phone to hamper the live coverage.
Union Of Journalists Islamabad and National Press Club condemned the incidents of attack on journalists in the line of duty.
Rawalpindi/Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) acting president Shakeel Anjum said the journalists and media organisations are performing their duties, and have no political affiliations. He called to party leaders to refrain their activists from attacking journalists.
Ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday departed from Islamabad in a cavalcade via GT Road and is expected to address his supporters at various stopovers during his travel route to Lahore.
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