PFUJ voices concern over rise in violence against journalists

ISLAMABAD : The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has condemned the recent incidents of manhandling, kidnapping, unlawful confinement and torture of journalists and demanded stern action against those responsible. A statement issued by PFUJ Secretary General Mazhar Abbas also condemned registration of cases against journalists in interior of Sindh and demanded withdrawal of all cases registered against journalists since November 27.
The PFUJ said in different incidents of violence Pir Zubair Shah, Akhtar Somroo of New York Times, Absar Alam of GEO, and Wiqar Kiyani of Guardian were targeted and they passed through trauma.
The Federal Information Minister Ms Sherry Rehman has assured PFUJ that she will take up these cases with the concerned authorities and will see that justice is done in all such cases, said the statement.
Following the release of two abducted journalist Pir Zubair Shah and Akhtar Somroo by Taliban, they were kept by the security agencies and have not been freed yet, it said.
The PFUJ said they were allegedly kept for questioning but are expected to reach Peshawar later Monday, if released by the political officers.
The PFUJ condemned the manhandling of the senior journalist and Bureau Chief of Geo TV, Islamabad, Absar Alam, allegedly by the relatives and friends of former Chief Minister Punjab. Those responsible for the incident were released by the police after few hours, the statement said.
“Those who tried to assault Alam must be taken to task,” the PFUJ demanded.
In another serious incident unidentified people kidnapped Wiqar Kiyani, an stinger for British newspaper Guardian on Sunday night.
Earlier, on his return from Karachi, where he was doing a story on a British national Sohaib Siddiqui, he was told that his house in G-8/1, was raided and was in bad shape.
According to the latest report Kiyani was freed after alleged torture with a warning not to follow the story or tell about his ordeal. He was thrown from a vehicle near Mianwali.
“These incidents were of grave concern for us and simply unacceptable,” the PFUJ said.
The PFUJ has demanded immediate release of the two journalists of NYT, recovery of Wiqar Kiyani and action against those responsible for his alleged illegal confinement.