Seven media personnel were seriously injured in baton charge by law-enforcement agencies on February 2, 2016 while covering the protest demonstration by state owned Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) against the planned privatization of the national airlines.

Shots were fired during the protest demonstration in which two employees of PIA lost their lives. Eye witnesses said police and paramilitary Rangers personnel started baton charge on protesters in which reporters, cameramen and photographers besides employees of national flag carrier were injured.

Shafi Dilshad cameraman of “Dawn News” television channel had his hand fractured. The foot of Rizwan Tabassum, photographer of “AFP” news agency was fractured. Both of them were also hit by batons and dragged.

Others who were injured were Muhammad Hanif Umer, cameraman of “ARY News” television channel; Naveed Kamal, reporter of “Dunya News” television channel; Rafiq Hassan, cameraman of “Express News” television channel; Amjad Iqbal, cameraman of “Waqt News” television channel and Samar Abbas, reporter of “Channel 92” television channel.

Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) in separate statements demanded a transparent investigation into the incident and reiterated their demand for the security of journalists and media organizations. Journalists covering the session of Sindh Assembly boycotted its proceedings and held a sit-in on steps of the Assembly building and raised protest slogans.

Members of the Provincial Assemblies in the Sindh Assembly also joined the newsmen during the protest which was called off when Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, Senior Minister for Education and Parliamentary Affairs of Sindh Government informed the protestors them that the Chief Minister had ordered an inquiry into the matter.

The Director General of the paramilitary Rangers, Bilal Akbar, ordered the formation a committee to investigate the matter.

Pakistan Press Foundation

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The grenade attack on the offices of ARY TV in Islamabad represents yet another strike against freedom of expression in Pakistan, underscoring the growing peril faced by media workers in the course of their work, Amnesty International said today.
Two attackers riding a motorcycle threw a grenade and reportedly fired gunshots at the ARY TV offices late on Wednesday. A video editor at the station was injured by shrapnel from the blast.
“This is the latest, depressing addition to a series of brazen attacks in which media workers in Pakistan have been targeted for doing their jobs,” said Champa Patel, Director of Amnesty International’s South Asia Regional Office.
Pamphlets left at the scene said the attack had been carried out by Islamic State Wilayah Khurasan, an armed group that claims allegiance to the armed group calling itself Islamic State (IS), in retaliation for ARY TV’s reporting of Pakistani military offensives.
“Pakistani media workers can now add being bombed at their desks to a list of occupational hazards that already includes abduction, arbitrary arrest and detention, intimidation, killings, and harassment by state and non-state actors,” Champa Patel said.
“The purpose of these attacks is to intimidate and censor the press as a whole, cracking down on freedom of expression.”
Within the last two months, Islamic State Wilayah Khurasan has claimed responsibility for attacks on the offices of Dunya TV in Faisalabad in November 2015, and Din News in Lahore in December 2015. In total, at least two media workers were killed and six injured in connection to their work in 2015.
Media workers and journalists also face harassment and intimidation from state actors in Pakistan.
The attack on the ARY office comes a day after Pakistan’s paramilitary Rangers force entered and conducted a warrantless search of a New York Times journalist’s home in Islamabad. The government alleged the raid on Salman Masood’s home was part of a larger search operation in the area, but it has since emerged that only a couple of other houses in that neighbourhood were searched.
The Interior Minister ordered an inquiry into the search operation later the same day. Even so, the incident entailed not just an infringement to the journalist’s right to privacy but could also be perceived as a tactic to intimidate him for his work, a lot of which has included writing about current government and military policies.
Amnesty International urges the authorities to conduct a thorough, prompt and transparent investigation into this and other attacks against media workers and journalists, and to bring those responsible to account. The authorities must also ensure adequate protection to media workers, journalists and their families facing threats and attacks due to their legitimate work, while ensuring their independence.

Amnesty International

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemns the attack on the Islamabad office of the Pakistani television channel ARY News on Wednesday, January 13. The IFJ demands an immediate investigation into the attack by authorities.

According to ARY News, unidentified attackers hurled a hand grenade at the Islamabad bureau office of ARY News, on Wednesday evening, also firing gunshots injuring a non-linear editor. The assailants who were riding a motorbike, lobbed a hand grenade at the ARY News offices and fired several shots before security guards retaliated swiftly forcing the attackers to flee away. The attackers threw pamphlets claiming that the Islamic State’s Afghanistan chapter carried out the attack ‘in reaction to the channels coverage of on-going operation Zarb-e-Azb’. Zarb-e-Azb is a joint military offensive being conducted by the Pakistan Armed Forces against various militant and terrorist groups.

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Information Minister Pervez Rasheed and political leaders have denounced the attack and promised swift action.

In November, 2015, a similar attack took place as unidentified attackers hurled a hand grenade on the Faisalabad bureau office of Dunya News TV injuring three people. The attackers had also thrown pamphlets containing threats during the attack.

The IFJ said: “The attack on the offices of the ARY News in Pakistan is a cowardly act of terrorism; and is against the principle of free press and democracy. The IFJ condemns the attack, claimed by the ISIS’ Afghanistan chapter and urge the Pakistani government to take swift action to arrest the attackers as soon as possible.”

“The IFJ also urge the Pakistani government to provide security to media person and media houses to ensure no further attacks take place.”

International Federation of Journalists

On December 7, a security guard of Express News television channel was injured when two unidentified men threw a homemade explosive device in their office in the city of Sargodha in the Punjab province.

The attackers who had come on a motorcycle, knocked on the gate and when the security opened it, they hurled the explosive device and ran away. The security guard Sher Mohammad was injured in the attack and the gate and some vehicles were also damaged. Mohammed was taken to DHQ Hospital Sargodha and given medical aid for minor injuries. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack.

This was the third attack on a media house in the province of Punjab. Previously, on November 20, unidentified men hurled hand grenade outside the bureau office of Dunya News in Faisalabad injuring three employees. On December 1, an employee Din News was injured in the hand grenade attack outside their office of in Lahore. In both attacks the attackers threw pamphlets of ISIS – Khorasan Group (Daulat-i-Islamia Khorasan). The group warned media houses for the future attacks.

The First Information Report (FIR) against unknown attackers was registered in Counter Terrorism Department (CTD). Police had started investigation into the incident and a joint investigation team (JIT) was formed consisting of CTD officials and police.

Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) condemned the attack and announced a protest sit in outside Punjab Assembly on December 8.

Pakistan Press Foundation

SARGODHA: A small home-made explosive device (cracker) was hurled at the offices of Express Media Group on Monday evening with the resulting blast injuring a security guard and damaging a number of vehicles.

At least two unidentified men riding on a motorcycle had approached the Express office on University Road at about at about 5:15pm in the evening and hurled the cracker over the closed gate before fleeing. It exploded with a loud bang and the ball bearings within injured security guard Sher Muhammad, and damaged a door, an office van and a number of parked motorcycles.

Rescue 1122 rushed to the spot soon after the explosion and took the injured guard to hospital for treatment. The bomb disposal squad was also summoned to the spot.

Shortly after the attack, DPO Sarghoda Sajjad Hassan Manj and DCO Saqib Manan visited the Express Media Group office and issued orders to depute a police detail outside the office.

A case of the attack was registered in CTD Faisalabad police station with articles relating to terrorism included in the FIR.

Advisor to the Chief Minister Rana Maqbool Ahmed and IG Punjab Mushtaq Sukhera have also demanded reports of the incident within 24 hours.

Meanwhile, a joint investigation team (JIT) consisting of officials from Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and the district police has been set up under Khalid Ranjha of the CTD and DSP City Rana Ghulam Murtaza to probe the attack.

Journalist unions and organisations have condemned the attack and have announced a protest for Tuesday (today).

Express Tribune

A receptionist of a television news channel and two police constables were injured on December 1, in an attack by hand grenade on the office of Din News in Lahore, the capital city of Punjab province in Pakistan.

The attacker on a motorcycle hurled hand grenade at the office of television channel along with pamphlets claiming responsibility of the attack by ISIS – Khorasan Group (Daulat-i-Islamia Khorasan) and warning that such attacks would continue if the media houses did not end helping the government of Pakistan and the army which were not implementing Islam and Sharia in the country

This was the same group that on November 20, attacked with a hand grenade at the bureau office of Dunya News television channel causing injury to two employees, in Faisalabad, in Punjab province. The group had then also warned media houses about further attacks.

The injured were shifted to a hospital and are in stable condition. The blast damaged vehicles parked at the office, shattered windowpanes and also created panic in the locality.

Police started investigation into incident. Punjab Inspector General of Police, Mushtaq Ahmad Sukhera ordered the police in Lahore to increase the security of media houses in view of serious security threats by militants.

Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists and Pakistan Broadcasters Association condemned the attack and demanded the authorities to immediately arrest the attacker.

Pakistan Press Foundation

LAHORE: Unidentified attackers hurled a hand grenade on the Lahore office of a local television channel DIN News on Tuesday evening, injuring four people.

According to initial reports, two policemen and a channel staffer was injured in the grenade attack.

Police constables Ejaz and Nazir suffered injuries in the attack, details revealed.

The attackers also threw pamphlets containing threats from ‘Daulat-i-Islamia’ (Islamic State group).

Last month, a similar attack outside another news channel, Dunya News’ Faisalabad bureau had left three of the channel’s employees injured.

The attackers had also thrown pamphlets containing threats from a certain ‘Daulat-i-Islamia Khorasan’ (Islamic State- Khorasan group) claiming responsibility for the attack.

While on Friday, unidentified gunmen had attacked a DawnNews Digital Satellite News Gathering (DSNG) van in the Essa Nagri area of Karachi, leaving one staffer injured.

Attackers riding motorcycles fired straight shots at the DSNG van near Essa Nagri, leaving technician Hassan Mateen severely injured. Mateen was taken to a private hospital for treatment.

The attack was widely condemned by all sections of society and journalist organisations had announced protests.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah had condemned the attack in strong words while claiming that government will bring the culprits to justice as soon as possible while Sindh governor had assured that the journalist community will be provided security at all costs.

Dawn

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

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