Pakistan: Police entered the press club and beat up journalists, announcing a black day across the country today.

News Topical, Digital Desk : An alleged attack on journalists at the National Press Club in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Thursday has sparked outrage among journalists. The Pakistan Journalists Association has declared Friday a "Black Day." The association called the attack a direct assault on media freedom.

The lawyer community of PoJK was staging a peaceful protest at the Press Club when they were attacked by police forces. Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Thursday ordered an investigation after Islamabad police entered the National Press Club (NPC) and attacked journalists, Dawn reported.

Angry journalist

Regarding the attack on journalists, Afzal Butt, president of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), said, "Journalists are currently enraged. He also stated that all press clubs across Pakistan will fly black flags in condemnation of this act." Afzal Butt further stated that this is not just an issue with the Islamabad Press Club. Press clubs across Pakistan believe that if they ignore this worst incident, tomorrow it could be Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, or Quetta.

Journalist's broken camera

Videos circulating on Pakistani news channels and social media showed policemen with batons dragging journalists, breaking cameras, and attacking staff inside the NPC. Images showed one photojournalist's shirt torn and his camera broken.

Violence is not tolerated under any circumstances...

Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said in a statement, "Violence against the journalist community cannot be tolerated under any circumstances." He said that those responsible would be prosecuted. He also requested a report from the Inspector General in Islamabad.

The police themselves did not come...

Additionally, other Pakistani journalist organizations accused the government of approving the raid. Tariq Virk, president of the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Journalists Association, said, "The Islamabad police didn't come here on their own. They were sent. The police also harassed and arrested a sick employee. We will now adopt a plan of action so that no one dares to repeat such misconduct."

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