Ali K. Chishti, a correspondent of Friday Times, said he was intercepted by some half a dozen policemen in the PECHS area minutes after he had left his office with driver on Aug 30.

Mr Chishti, who felt that there was serious threat to his life, left for Islamabad after the incident. He said he ‘suspected some people’ of being behind the incident. However, he did not mention any name.

“I was dragged out of my car, put into a police vehicle and taken to Do Darya where I and my driver were handed over to some people in civvies. I also heard a gunshot…soon after we were taken out of the vehicle. I was kept there for nine hours and severely beaten up. My driver has since been missing,” he said.

Mr Chishti said the people in civvies threatened him and asked him to leave the city within 24 hours and refrain from reporting the matter to anyone. They also ‘abused’ Friday Times editor Najam Sethi, he added.

“I wrote extensively on national security issues and also about extremist elements. I am not sure but have enough reasons to believe who they were and why they did it to me,” said Mr Chishti.

Our New York Correspondent adds: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) called on the Pakistani government to fully investigate the abduction and beating of Mr Chishti.

Mr Chishti told CPJ and other news outlets that he had been abducted and beaten up on Aug 30, and released the next morning.

DAWN

Addressing a consultative meeting of journalists and lawyers organised by Intermedia for “Attacks against Journalists” here, he said the mandate of Council was to receive the complaints and to enforce ethical code of practice to develop good media practice in the country.

He said that the government, civil society, media organisations and political parties should evolve strategy to combat extremism, terrorism and militancy in the society, which had endangered freedom of press.

The chairman said murders of the journalist indicated the challenges faced by them, especially in areas where law and order situation was bad. Attacks on the media persons are not only condemnable but also tantamount to causing interference in the free dissemination of information.

Replying to a question, he said that it required prevention mechanism and action to address some of the root causes of violence against journalists with immunity. He has further stated that “under Article 19 and 19-A of the

Constitution of Pakistan, freedom of press and right to access of information has been granted. Under sub-section 1(i) of the Press Council of Pakistan Ordinance, the freedom of Press is to be preserved.

He said that the PCP had ensured to act as a shield to freedom of press or against any sort of interference in the proper functioning of the press.He expressed the hope that the government and media would benefit from vision of PCP members and the Council will prove to be an important component to strengthen media.

Pakistan Press Foundation