A joint committee of journalists and media representatives has submitted a letter of demands to the Ministry of Interior, seeking rapid and strict action against those involved in the police raid last week at the National Press Club in Islamabad.
A delegation led by the main journalist Azhar Jatoi met Tuesday with the Minister of State of the Interior Talal Chaudhry to formally submit the demands. During the meeting, the APC secretary, Nayyar Ali, informed the minister about the incident and transmitted the concerns of the committee about the assault on media staff.
According to the letter, journalists have demanded that an investigation committee be formed within 24 hours to investigate the incident and that a detailed report is presented within four days. They also requested strict legal actions against those responsible.
Chaudhry assured the delegation that the government was taking the matter seriously. “The Prime Minister, the Minister of the Interior and the Minister of Information have expressed a serious concern for the incident and have directed an exhaustive investigation,” he said.
Read more: Islamabad Police Storm National Press Club
The minister also announced that police officers now must obtain a previous permit from the administrations of the press clubs before entering their facilities.
The Committee has proposed a joint investigation agency that includes representatives of the Interior and the Information Ministries, and the NPC to guarantee impartiality. He also urged the formation of a high -level committee under the Federal Interior Minister to guarantee long -term security for press clubs throughout the country.
The letter also requested a formal notification that guarantees the safety of press clubs and media institutions.
In expressing frustration for delays in the implementation of journalist protection mechanisms, the Committee said that the journalist protection commission remains non -functional even after four years. He demanded that the body be fully constituted and operationalized in two weeks, according to the relevant legislation.
Read too: Who authorized the ICT Police for violence against journalists?
The committee also called to Parliament to approve a unanimous resolution that safeguard the holiness and independence of press clubs and journalist unions. In response, Chaudhry promised to address the problem with the president of the Senate, the speaker of the National Assembly and other relevant authorities.
Last week, Islamabad police staff broke into the NPC, destroyed the property and assaulted journalists. Eye witnesses said that armed police officers entered the facilities without prior notice, damaged teams and wounded several media workers.
The attack caused generalized outrage among the bodies of journalists, who described it as “a direct assault on press freedom and freedom of expression.” The protests broke out outside the NPC, with members of political and social organizations that joined the demonstrations.
After the protest, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi realized the incident and ordered the Islamabad IGP to present a detailed report. The rating of the “unacceptable” raid, said, “violence against journalists cannot be tolerated under any circumstance.”
