Pakistan:Three injured as police beat up journalists

Source: IFEX

(PPF/IFEX) - May 15, 2012 - Sher Ali Khan, a correspondent for the News One television station, Siraj Ali, cameraman for Geo News television station, and Shabir Ahmed, a correspondent for the Pakhtunkhuwa News daily, were beaten by police while covering a demonstration against electricity load-shedding. The incident occurred on May 11, 2012 in Charsadda district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhuwa province.

Sabza Ali, President of the Charsadda Press Club and a senior reporter for Geo News, told PPF that Sher Ali sustained injuries to his head and one of his fingers was also broken. He was admitted to the District Headquarters Hospital, in Charsadda, while Siraj Ali and Shabir Ahmed sustained minor injuries.

He said local people were protesting against the electricity shut down and police used batons to disperse them. When the journalists rushed to the scene and started filming the melee, the police snatched their cameras and tried to destroy their footage. Some police officers also started beating the journalists so as to prevent them from covering the incident.

The Khyber Union of Journalists (KhUJ) has condemned the brutal attack on the journalists by the police and demands the immediate suspension of the responsible officers.