Islamabad police have registered a first investigation report (FIR) against five persons, including the security guards of Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif, for assaulting a Samaa TV cameraman on Monday.

TV footage had showed Syed Wajid Ali, the cameraman, lying on the ground outside the parliament building after a security guard allegedly shoved him for getting in the way of Sharif while recording footage of the politician. Another guard was then seen rushing towards the cameraman and kicking him in the face. The guard then leaves in one of the vehicles of the protocol.

The cameraman, who lost consciousness in the attack, was taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims). According to doctors, Ali sustained injuries on his lip, where he was administered three stitches, and on his head. The FIR names three guards from Sharif’s convoy and two unknown assailants. The case has been registered under Sections 355 and 506 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

According to the FIR, the cameraman said that he was attacked by two security guards while he was trying to take photographs of the former prime minister leaving the parliament building.
“I became unconscious as a result of the (attack),” Ali is quoted as saying in the FIR.
The incident happened in the presence of Usman Cheema, Wahab Kamran, and other journalists, the FIR added.

Later, two of Sharif’s guards – identified as Mansub and Mohsin – were presented before a civil judge, who remanded the duo on judicial custody for 14 days.
Sharif, while speaking to the media, described the incident as unfortunate and assured that “every measure will be taken in accordance with the law”.
The former prime minister regretted the incident but claimed that the assaulted cameraman had first hit his guard with his camera. Elaborating on the incident, Sharif said that his chief security guard, Shakoor, was clearing the path for him as they headed for the car when the guard pushed the cameraman out of the way.

“I objected to the way [the cameraman] was pushed out of the way … [and then] the cameraman hit Shakoor’s forehead with his camera. Shakoor’s forehead started bleeding,” Nawaz told reporters.

“I said, no need to react. I saw the [cameraman] getting pushed, my guard getting hit, after that I don’t know what happened, I was leaving,” the former premier said.

“That is no way [to behave],” Sharif said. “[But] the cameraman had hit the guard on his forehead with his equipment.”

“I will aid the investigation into the matter in every way possible, and I will also take action against the guards who are involved in this,” the PML-N supremo said, adding that he would never want to hurt the people who are reporting about him and his family “in this difficult time”.
Speaking to journalists at the accountability court, he said that the incident should never have taken place.

Gulf Time

‘Editors for Safety’, an organisation of newspaper editors and heads of television channels working for safety and security of journalists, has expressed it’s serious concern on a series of attacks on journalists and television crews in different cities by supporters of some religious organisations during today’s protest rallies.

Reports from Lahore, Karachi, Hyderabad and some other cities say protesters attacked office of a TV station, attacked DSNG (outdoor broadcast) vans, pelted stones at press clubs, and manhandled journalists.

‘Editors for Safety’ Chairman , while condemning these attacks, has said that neither the government nor the protesters can force any news outlet to shape the news coverage of any event in accordance with their wishes.

‘Editors for Safety’ has called upon the federal Minister for Interior and the provincial governments to provide maximum security to media teams and media houses, and to take action against those responsible for these attacks.

Pakistan Press Foundation

ISLAMABAD: Various journalist bodies on Monday staged a demonstration here outside the National Press Club (NPC) urging the government to ensure foolproof security at their workplaces.

The protest was held on the call of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) which was attended by the members of Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ), NPC and other journalist bodies.

Condemning the gun attack on the office of a private channel in Lahore, NPC President Shakeel Anjum said the government should immediately take steps for the security of media houses which were under threat from various elements.

He said the media had been playing an important role in the war on terror. He said the journalists had rendered sacrifices in the struggle for freedom of expression and always become target of those elements who did not want a free environment for the media industry.

PFUJ President Afzal Butt said the journalists had always raised voice for the rights of people but now they themselves were not safe at their workplaces. He said the culprits involved in the killing of journalists should be prosecuted.

Meanwhile, the journalist community also staged a protest rally in Lahore. The rally led by Lahore Press Club President Shahbaz Mian started from the Club and concluded in front of the Punjab Assembly building. The participants of the rally demanded the government to ensure protection to the media houses and journalists. They also demanded early arrest of the culprits involved in the firing incident.

The News

LAHORE: The Provincial Assembly on Monday passed a unanimous resolution condemning an attack on the office of a television channel. The resolution demanded that the government take the necessary security measures to protect journalists and media houses.

The session chaired by Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal had earlier witnessed a token walkout by journalists from the press gallery in protests of the attack on Sunday. Journalists blocked the Charing Cross. Minister for Mines and Minerals Sher Ali met them and assured them that the government would take immediate measures to address the issue of security.

A resolution moved jointly by Law Minister Rana Sanaullah and Leader of the Opposition Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed was then passed by the House. It commended the media for its sacrifices and determination in the wake of terrorist attacks. The resolution condemned attacks on all media houses as well as efforts to curb freedom of expression. “Freedom of the press is a basic requirement of a democratic society,” it stated.

The opposition leader called on the government to seriously address the issue. The law minister said that media houses had received terrorist threats. “A meeting between the government and management of media houses earlier took place. Any lapse in media houses’ security will be addressed by the government,” he said. The law minister invited journalists as well as the opposition leader to review arrangements along with the CCPO.

The opposition took the opportunity to lash out against the Orange Line Metro Train project during the question hour. The opposition alleged that the government was ignoring other development projects and only focusing on the Rs165 billion train project. Rasheed said that funds from various departments and projects were being used for the train project.

A discussion on agriculture stretched the session to five hours with both the treasury and opposition benches criticising each other. The absence of the ministers of Food and the Finance annoyed opposition members. They demanded the ministers’ presence during the debate in accordance with a previous ruling of the speaker in this regard. The law minister dismissed the demand, saying that Agriculture Minister Farrukh Javed should do.

Javed told the House that potatoes were being exported to Sri Lanka and Malaysia. Referring to the issue of outstanding payments to sugarcane growers, the law minister said that 99 per cent payments – Rs132 billion – had been made for the year 2014-2015. “The inventories of the mills that have delayed payments have been seized,” he said. For the current year, he said, 87.7 per cent of dues had been paid. The process is expected to be completed by April, he said.

The opposition leader rejected all the claims. Rasheed criticised the government over the absence of a clear agriculture policy, lack of subsidies, mode of payment to farmers, as well as the figures cited by the ministers. “The import of vegetables from India is a challenge for local farmers,” he said. He demanded that a parliamentary committee be set up to address agriculture issues. The suggestion was supported by other opposition lawmakers. The law minister, however, proposed the inclusion of more members in the standing committee on agriculture with the condition that a report with suggestions be submitted within two months. The debate on agriculture will continue when the session resumes on Tuesday (today).

Express Tribune

Video editor of “ARY News” television channel was injured in attacked by militants of Islamic State (IS) on January 13, in Islamabad the capital of Pakistan.

The attackers on a motorcycle hurled a hand grenade and fired shots at the office. The security guard tried to catch the attackers but not succeeded. Omar Hayat, a Non-Linear Editor received head injury in the explosion. Window panes and glass door of the office were smashed.

The attackers left behind notes in English and Urdu that stated that the attack was by Islamic State Khurasan and was the reaction to the coverage of “ Zarb-e-Azb” operation by the Pakistan armed forces against militant groups. (The notes are attached)

The pamphlets read “Islamic State Wilayah Khurasan accepts the responsibility of this attack on the media,” and warned “If the media continues to hide and distort facts and serves as stenographers of ISPR (military’s public relations department), taking dictates and amplifying one-sided propaganda, then such a slave media is merely in extension of ISPR and hence we will treat it as a military institution and all its personnel as soldiers of the apostate Napak (Unclean) Army. So do not proclaim this as an attack on journalistic freedom.”

This was the third attack in less than two months on television channels by Islamic State Khurasan. The first was an attack by hand grenade at Faisalabad bureau office of “Dunya News” television channel on November 20, 2015 and injured two staffers. The second was on December 1, 2015 when IS militants hurled a hand grenade at Lahore office of “Din News” television channel and injured a staffer and two police constables.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif took the notice of the attack at the television channel and directed the authorities to conduct an investigation and to provide security “ARY News”.

Pakistan Press Foundation

FAISALABAD (Dunya News) – Dunya News came under a grenade attack Friday from unknown assailants of banned organization as its Bureau office in Faisalabad was bombed, injuring three of its employees. The attack shattered windows, while cars and motorcycles parked outside were significantly damaged by the explosion. Threatening pamphlets were also dropped at the crime scene by the unidentified suspects.

Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Shareef has taken notice of the onslaught and ordered the arrest of the culprits. Chief Minister (CM) Punjab also took notice of the grenade attack and has ordered a report to be submitted. CM Punjab has also ordered Regional Police Officer (RPO) Faisalabad to take immediate action against the act of terrorism and advised that the suspects involved be arrested within 24 hours.

Police, in its traditional manner, arrived late at the scene and now has started gathering evidence from the incident site.

Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists’ (PFUJ) President Rana Azeem has declared a state wide protest against the attack. He stated that Dunya News has always stood for the truth and he assured the cooperation of the journalist community.

In a talk with Dunya News, Karachi Press Club President Fazil Jamali expressed that the attack on Dunya News’ Bureau office was an attempt to silence the truth.

Federal Minister for Information Pervaiz Rasheed while talking to Dunya News stated that the government condemns the violent act and assured that the culprits will be brought to justice on immediate basis.

Spokesperson for the PM Musadiq Malik stated that an attack on journalists was an attack on democracy. He stated that strict action shall be taken against those involved and that PM Nawaz has also given the order for the arrest of the suspects.

A nationwide protest of the journalist community against the grenade attack on Dunya News was seen including Lahore, Multan, Quetta, Sahiwal and Khanewal along with numerous other cities. Protestors have called the terrorist act an attack on the freedom of press. Protesors chanted slogans against terrorism and have demanded an immediate arrest of those involved.

Dunya News

”Journalists are bigger terrorists than terrorists themselves.”
–Asif Ali Zardari’s frustration on Pakistani media during an address to businessmen from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad 2009.

Asif Ali Zardari was addressing members of the delegation of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), during which he commented on the role of journalists in Pakistan. The president and the PPP-led federal government had come under growing criticism by most of the media due to their handling of the situation in the wake of Mumbai attacks.The government then deniedthat the president ever said such words and has reiterated how the elected civilian government is committed to press freedom and the welfare of journalists. The journalist who wrote the piece stood by his story.
Undoubtedly, Pakistan is an extremely challenging environment for journalists to work in. The rising violence and threat to journalists’ personal safety undermines whatever little press freedomis allowed by the country’s many power centers. Insecure and authoritarian governments, as has mostly been the case in Pakistan’s six-decade history, are wary of a vocal and critical press.

The Nation

TANK: Tribal journalist and human rights activist Mohammad Zaman Mehsud was gunned down in an ambush in Tank, southern district of Khyber Pakhtun­khwa, on Tuesday, only a day after the International Day of End Impunity Against Journalists was observed the world over.

Police and witnesses said that Zaman Mehsud was going to Tank from Gomal bazaar on his motorcycle when he came under fire near the Dabara refugee camp. Zaman Mehsud was injured and taken to the District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ) which referred him to the DHQ hospital in Dera Ismail Khan where he succumbed to his wounds. The assailants who were on a motorcycle managed to escape after the attack. According to the post-mortem report, the journalist was hit by 10 bullets.

Zaman Mehsud was working as a correspondent for Urdu language dailies Daily Ummat and Nai Bat. He served as president and secretary general of the South Waziristan chapter of Tribal Union of Journalists’. He hailed from the Mantoi area of Ladha in South Waziristan and was residing in Tank. He was also a monitor of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan’s South Waziristan chapter.

Soon after the attack, a large number of journalists from Tank and South Waziristan reached the hospital.

Aslam Khan, a brother of the slain journalist, registered a First Information Report (FIR) against unidentified killers. He said the deceased who was the lone bread earner of his family, had no enmities with anyone. Zaman Mehsud leaves behind his wife, three sons and two daughters. The funeral will be held at Narsez IDP camp in Tank on Wednesday.

HRCP SHOCKED: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has expressed grief over the killing of Zaman Mehsud.

The commission, in a statement, said: “We announce with great sorrow and grief, the passing of Zaman Mehsud, a dedicated member of the HRCP family and our monitor from South Waziristan.” The local hospital, the HRCP said, did not have adequate facilities to treat him and he was moved to a hospital in Dera Ismail Khan where he expired on the operating table.”

“HRCP offers sincere condolences to the bereaved family. The commission hopes that this latest addition to our list of martyrs to the cause of human rights will not dampen the spirit of the deceased’s colleagues and will reinforce their resolve to work for the rights and dignity of all human beings with the same commitment as before, ” the statement said.

Dawn

It’s been a year and three months since the last attack on Pakistani journalist Jamshed Baghwan’s house in Peshawar, the capital of Pakistan’s province Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. The July 2, 2014 incident was the third on his house in four months.

Baghwan, the bureau chief for Express News in Peshawar, recalls how difficult that time was. His kids couldn’t sleep at night afterwards, he says, and they had to stop going to school. There were no fatalities, but it was only pure luck that saved Baghwan.

He was driving home with his wife that night when he saw a group of men put something outside the gate of his house. Minutes later, there was an explosion, which destroyed the front of his home.

That March another bomb had been found outside his house and earlier in April a hand grenade had been hurled at his residence. To date, there are no certain answers about who was behind the attacks.

Police made a few arrests, but no one was formally charged and there were no convictions.

Nor is Baghwan’s experience unusual. As the world marks the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists on Nov. 2, most cases of violence against media personnel remain uninvestigated. According to UNESCO’s global statistics, in the past decade 700 journalists have been killed, with no convictions in nine out of ten cases.

“There have been very, very few investigations, and even fewer convictions in the murder of Pakistani journalists,” said Bob Dietz, Asia program coordinator for the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

Killers walk free

Lawyer Saroop Ijaz, who works for Human Rights Watch in Pakistan, shares that opinion. He says the Pakistani government has an “abysmal” record of thoroughly investigating attacks on journalists and holding the perpetrators accountable.

“The formation of Commissions [to investigate attacks on journalists] is turning into a farce,” he told Al Jazeera America.

He mentioned some high-profile cases of targeted journalists, including Wali Khan Babar, a 28-year-old reporter, shot dead in January 2011 in Pakistan’s largest city, Karachi; Salem Shahzad, who was found dead in Islamabad in June 2011 after reporting on the infiltration of terrorist groups in the military and Hamid Mir, among Pakistan’s most famous journalists, who survived an attack on his life in Karachi in April 2014.

“The Saleem Shahzad commission’s report failed to ensure accountability or even name the perpetrators,” said Ijaz.

“The Hamid Mir commission report remains pending and the proceedings shrouded in mystery. The witnesses, investigating officers and prosecutor have been assassinated in Wali Khan Babar’s cases. The impunity surrounding the violence against journalists continues unabated,” he said.

On CPJ’s Global Impunity Index, Pakistan ranks as the ninth worst country in the world in which journalists are murdered and no one is brought to justice. In terms of violence, the year 2015, however, has been better than previous years. In 2014, according to the International Federation of Journalists, Pakistan was listed as the most dangerous place for media with 14 journalists killed.

The high-risk areas in 2015 remain conflict zones such Yemen, South Sudan and Syria.

While the number of journalists being killed in Pakistan has dropped – so far this year, Geo News’s Aftab Alam is the only one killed – the scale of the violence is still disturbing. The attack that killed Alam was among three separate attacks on Pakistani media personnel in a span of 24 hours. (Though some officials have said it is not clear if Alam’s killing was related to his profession.)

“The threat level from all sides remains incredibly high. It is too soon to say the killing of journalists has abated in Pakistan,” said Dietz.

The accusations leveled by Geo TV against Pakistan’s Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) led to a temporary ban on the channel. However, the channel disappeared from television screens in most parts of the country even before the ban was officially placed, and remained blocked for most of 2014.

“The Pakistani State has not displayed serious resolve to protect journalists, Ijaz said, adding, “By curtailing freedom of expression and criminalizing free speech the Pakistan government is only emboldening violent actors to attack journalists. The accusations of blasphemy and treason leveled on journalists by the State only makes an already beleaguered journalist community even more vulnerable.”

Targeted by all sides

Kati Marton, a board member of CPJ, was in direct contact with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif last year with respect to the violence surrounding media personnel.

She said CPJ had kept up pressure on the government since their first meeting with Sharif in March 2014.

“After our meeting we kept up fairly intense pressure on the Nawaz Sharif government, with a string of letters, alerts and blogs, and we returned to Pakistan twice after the meeting with Nawaz. But we have yet to see a serious increase in prosecutions, or even investigations, into the killings of journalists,” she told Al Jazeera America.

Mohsin Ranjha, parliamentary secretary for Ministry of Information, points out that security problems faced by journalists in Pakistan are the same as they are for anyone else.

“Journalists are under security threat, just like politicians, security forces or children in schools are,” said Ranjha, adding “We have never created obstacles for the media in any way, the media in Pakistan is independent. There are several talks shows that air completely false allegations against us, but we have never even tried to stop those.”

In an Oct. 29 report, the Pakistan Press Foundation highlighted the threats media personnel continue to face.

“Pakistani journalists are not only targeted by militants but also by political, religious, ethnic and other pressure groups as well as the law enforcement agencies. …For every journalist who has been deliberately targeted and murdered, there are many others who have been injured, threatened and coerced into silence,” it said.

Journalists in various parts of the country, such as Balochistan, however, cannot even speak about the threats they are faced with.

That province has had the highest number of killings in Pakistan. According to the Balochistan Union of Journalists 41 journalists have been targeted in Balochistan in different incidents since 2008. Because of the high security threat, Balochistan remains an information black hole with virtually no news reaching mainstream media from most parts of the province.

A reporter from Balochistan who requested that he is not identified, remembers friends who have died on duty. But he says he cannot talk about them.

“The situation is too sensitive,” he said, “and Balochistan [remains] voiceless.”

Al Jazeera America

KARACHI: Men on a motorcycle opened fire at a digital satellite news-gathering (DSNG) van of Samaa TV in Liaquatabad area on Sunday.

A cameraman, a technician and the driver of the vehicle escaped unhurt but its rear window was smashed by a bullet.

According to Karachi-West Deputy Inspector General of Police Feroze Shah, the same weapon had been used in five recent incidents of targeted killing in the city, including an attack on a shrine in Korangi and the killing of a traffic policeman in Gulbai on Sept 2.

Sharifabad police said the vehicle was attacked near Al Azam Square.

The DIG told Dawn that several shots had been fired and police found a shell of a 0.9mm pistol at the crime scene.

A pistol was also used in targeted killings of three members of the Shia community in Mominabad and Pirabad area earlier this year.

The police official said the attack on media persons appeared to be aimed at destabilising the city’s security situation.

He said he had formed a police team to identify and attackers in five days and ascertain their motive.

Dawn