- The police damage the property, Smash Cameras during the raid.
- Journalists beat inside the cafeteria for no reason.
- Employees and office holders have also targeted, arrested.
Islamabad: Islamabad police stormed the National Press Club (NPC) Thursday afternoon during a demonstration organized by the Awami Action Committee, assaulting journalists and damaging goods in what senior media representatives described as one of the “worst incidents in history”.
The demonstration was scheduled around 3 p.m. at the National Press Club. When demonstrators gathered outside, the police arrested them.
Journalists on the stage began to document the events with photos and videos, but the police tried to stop them, even trying to tear down cameras and mobile phones.
A few minutes after the police were invited not to have the media staff by superior journalists, police staff forced the doors of the press club, some climbing the walls and entering the building as if “terrorists were inside”.
They attacked several journalists, broke their equipment and also stormed the cafeteria, beating journalists who took tea.
Despite journalists on several occasions the police on several occasions that no demonstrator was inside, the assault continued. Cameras were thrown on the ground, while media workers were attacked.
Pakistan President Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), AFZAL Butt, condemned the incident, claiming that the police had broken the NPC furniture, attacked both employees and office holders, and even arrested part of the staff.
He said that the level of aggression displayed by the police was unprecedented.
“Even during the dictatorships, such behavior was not observed. The police expected outside for a person sought rather than getting a descent into the press club,” said Butt.
He warned that Islamabad police should respond to violence, if not, journalists would launch a strong demonstration.
Meanwhile, NPC journalists have discussions on their next action plan following the assault.
