Pakistan Police Raid on Islamabad Press Club During POK Protests: Journalists Attacked and Press Freedom Concerns

A disturbing image circulated showing a policeman gripping the collar of a journalist during the incident.

Islamabad:

As tensions escalate in Pakistan over alleged human rights violations and internet shutdown in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK), police forces in Islamabad conducted a raid on the National Press Club (NPC), resulting in attacks on several journalists. According to Pakistani media sources, law enforcement stormed the club, situated in central Islamabad, with the apparent aim of detaining Kashmiri journalists who were covering a protest announcement by the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), an organization that had called for demonstrations against Shehbaz Sharif's government.

Social media footage depicted police officers armed with batons entering what appeared to be the press club's cafeteria and assaulting individuals seated inside. Additional videos showed officers forcibly removing some protesters from the premises.

Another viral image captured a journalist desperately attempting to free himself from a policeman's grip while still holding his camera.

Anas Mallick, a correspondent for Asia One television channel, informed Dawn newspaper that police entered the club seeking to arrest Kashmiri journalists covering JAAC's protest call. He described the officers as "acting like thugs" during the operation.

Veteran journalist Hamid Mir told the publication that police were attempting to apprehend JAAC members and had "targeted journalists present in the cafeteria" during the operation.

The raid reportedly occurred on Thursday while POK residents were demonstrating outside the Press Club against alleged abuses in their region. According to Pakistan Today, police allegedly 'mistook' journalists for protesters before launching the attack.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) issued a statement condemning the use of force against media personnel and called for a thorough investigation into the matter.

Following widespread criticism of the police action across Pakistan, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi ordered an official inquiry into the incident. In his statement, Naqvi acknowledged the "unfortunate" event and demanded a comprehensive report from Islamabad's inspector general of police.

"Violence against the journalist community cannot be tolerated under any circumstances. Disciplinary action must be taken against officials involved in the incident," he was quoted as saying by Dawn newspaper.

This troubling incident highlights growing concerns regarding press freedom and the treatment of minorities in Pakistan.