25 Aug, 2010
Media Release: PFUJ slam Karachi Rangers for detaining Journalist
Posted by: admin In: Media Release
PFUJ Secretariat:
Media Release: PFUJ slam Karachi Rangers for detaining Journalist
Islamabad, April 6: Expressing anguish over detention and manhandling of a journalist, Syed Hasan Ali Shah, who is also a member of the Karachi Union of Journalists by the rangers on Monday night near Haroon House, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists has demanded immediate action against the ranger officials who misbehaved with the journalist.
The journalist had watched the rangers punishing two youths with sticks and had started taking snaps from his mobile camera when all of a sudden ranger jawans got off their vehicle and snatched keys of his vehicle and ordered him to accompany them to their headquarters which is next door to Dawn offices. They detained the journalist for an hour and also ordered him to ensure that the picture he had taken would not be published in his newspaper.
The PFUJ regretted that the PRO of the rangers who was informed about the incident, termed the action correct. It reflects the hostile attitude of the rangers towards journalists and also speaks volumes, it added. The PFUJ leadership demanded of the interior ministry to ensure that journalists are not refrained from performing their official duties by the rangers.
“For over an hour, Rangers officials kept grilling the Dawn staffer despite the fact that he had properly identified himself and accepted that he was trying to take the picture,” the PFUJ said. The officials took the Dawn staffer inside the Rangers Headquarters, where he was further grilled and pressured to delete the photo. However, Hassan Ali had already told them he was not able to take the picture, it said.
The PFUJ demanded to the Federal Government, Federal Minister for Interior and other high ups to take notice of highhandedness of the Karachi Rangers and high level inquiry to this incident and those responsible for this ugly incident should be taken to task.
Shamsul Islam Naz
Secretary General
PAKISTAN FEDERAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS
12-Nazimuddin Road, F-6/1
Islamabad, Pakistan
Phone Office +92(0)51 2870220-1
Facsimile +92(0)51 2870223
Cellular +92(0)300 8665523
http://www.shamsulislamnaz.com
http://www.pfuj.pk
