Hassan Mateen, engineer of Dawn News television channel was shot and injured on November 27 by unidentified armed men in Karachi, the biggest city of Pakistan.

The armed men fired six shot at Dawn news digital satellite news gathering (DSNG) van, one of which hit Mateen in his shoulder after breaking window glass. He was moved to a hospital where he is in stable condition. Four bullets pierced the van but did not hit the occupants.

Omar Shah, a cameraman of Dawn News who was also present in the van but escaped injury, registered complaint of attempted murder and property damage against unknown attackers. The management of Dawn News did not know motive behind attack.

Deputy Superintendent of Police, Nasir Lodhi termed the incident as a targeted attack. While talking to Pakistan Press Foundation, Senior Investigating Officer, Khadim Soomro said that there was no CCTV camera at the place of incident but investigation was in process and police was monitoring all nearby CCTV footages to trace the attackers.

The Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA), Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), Karachi Union of Journalists and media organizations throughout the country demanded a thorough and immediate investigation and to book the culprits.

Pakistan Press Foundation

In September, an attack on Geo News van killed its engineer while the driver suffered bullet injuries.

Officials were not sure about the motive behind the firing, but they believed it was a deliberate attack when armed riders fired shots at the DSNG moving with its staff for a routine work.

“Witnesses said that armed men on a motorbike fired shots at the DSNG van,” said DIG East Munir Sheikh.

“Four shots were fired at the van and one of them hit a man sitting inside.

He has been identified as DSNG engineer Muhammad Hassan, who has been moved to a private hospital for treatment.”

The fresh attack came as a grim reminder of an episode in September when an attack claimed life of Geo News satellite engineer Syed Arshad Jaffery and left the driver injured.

In January 2014 three employees of the Express News channel were shot dead in North Nazimabad in an attack claimed by the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan.

The media fraternity reacted strongly to the attack on DawnNews van vehicle, calling it an attempt to harass and suppress the spirit of free media.

The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists and the Karachi Union of Journalists called for thorough and transparent investigations into the incident.

The DawnNews management said there was no prior threat from any group or any warning from law enforcement agencies, but that the attack would definitely cause harassment among media workers.

“Police have to determine what motive was behind the attack,” said Zahid Mazhar, Director of News and Head of Current Affairs of DawnNews.

“Right now we can only demand a police investigation into the incident to determine the motive behind the attack and arrest of those people who have done it.

“The closure of the case without any result will fan speculations and cause fear among media workers.”

Dawn

A number of unidentified people threw small explosives described as crackers, targeting the DSNG of Dunya News, Dawn News and Abb Tak News channels after the conclusion of a political rally at Faizabad Interchange. The attack left five media workers injured.

The attack took place after the completion of coverage of the political rally organized by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. The crackers were hauled at the parked DSNG vans from a motorcycle. According to reports, the crackers left an eight-inch wide and one inch deep crater at the site and damaged the TV vans.

DSNG engineer Ziaul Haq and cameraman Mohsin Ali of DawnNews, Nadir Hussain and Amir Ishfaq of Duniya News and Suleman Mubarik of Abb Takk News were injured in the incident who received treatment by Rescue 1122 medical staff on the spot.

The police have registered a case against unnamed attackers and are investigating what amounts of explosives were used.

The IFJ and the PFUJ demand immediate arrest of the culprits. The PFUJ is holding protest programs against the attack around the country.

The PFUJ said: “We condemn the incident and consider it an act of terrorism to threaten media to stop them showing truth. Such incidents cannot stop media men to perform their duties to show people the truth.”

Jane Worthington, the acting director of the IFJ Asia-Pacific said: “Attacks on television channels has become routine in political rallies in Pakistan; it is a cowardly act and becoming part of Pakistan’s culture of impunity. The IFJ condemns the attack and urge the government to ensure safety and security of journalists on the field.”

International Federation of Journalists

The incident occurred after a political rally, organized by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) when two men on a motorcycle hurled crackers at the parked DSNG vans of Dawn News, Dunya News and Abb Tak News channels. Five media personnel, DSNG engineer Ziaul Haq and cameraman Mohsin Ali of Dawn News, Nadir Hussain and Amir Ishfaq of Duniya News and Suleman Mubarik of Abb Takk News were injured who received treatment by Rescue 1122 medical staff on the spot. The DSNG vans were partially damaged in the attack.

No one claimed responsibility for the attack.

The Police registered a case against unnamed attackers and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Islamabad Asmatullah Junego said the target was the DSNG of Dawn News.

President of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) Rana M Azeem and Secretary General Amin Yousuf strongly condemned attack and demanded that that the culprits be captured and put behind the bars. “We condemn the incident and consider this a terrorism to threat media to stop them showing truth. Such incidents cannot stop media men to perform their duties,” Rana Azeem said.

Pakistan Press Foundation

The attack on media workers in Islamabad on Sunday appears to be part of this pattern of intimidation and violence. Five media persons were injured when unidentified attackers lobbed a cracker at DSNG vans returning from the PTI rally.

Two of the victims work for DawnNews, while employees of Dunya News and Abb Takk News were also among the injured.

Also read: DawnNews vehicle attacked in Islamabad, cameraman injured

A similar incident was witnessed in Karachi in January, when an Express News van was attacked. Unfortunately, in that incident — claimed by the banned TTP — lives were lost. The same media house’s offices in Karachi were also targeted in earlier attacks.

While claims of responsibility for the latest attack had not emerged at the time of writing, a committee has been formed to investigate the incident.

The number of actors who have attacked journalists and media workers in the past have included religious and separatist militants, as well as individuals reportedly associated with political parties.

Personnel apparently working for the security agencies have also been known to target media workers. So until more details of Sunday’s incident emerge, it will be difficult to fix the blame.

However, what past cases make clear is that almost anyone can commit acts of violence against the media in Pakistan, and get away with it. In this case too, how did the attackers disappear into the ether in the supposedly secure environs of Islamabad?

We hope the committee formed to investigate the matter pursues the case and does not end up with inconclusive results similar to those of committees past. And media houses need to close ranks to send a strong message to the state that violence against journalists will not be tolerated and those using intimidatory tactics against media workers must be made to face the law.

DAWN