Black Day: Islamabad Police Storm Islamabad Press Club, Assault Journalists and Peaceful Protesters

ISLAMABAD: A police raid on the National Press Club (NPC) on Thursday sparked widespread condemnation after officers stormed the premises, assaulted journalists, and damaged equipment in what media bodies described as an unprecedented attack on press freedom.

The incident occurred during a peaceful protest by members of the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) outside the club, amid the ongoing unrest in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

Key Highlights

• Islamabad police stormed the National Press Club, beating journalists and damaging property.
• At least a dozen journalists were assaulted, cameras smashed; two staff members briefly detained.
• Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi ordered an inquiry, while Minister Talal Chaudhry offered an apology.
• Journalist bodies declared “Black Day” and demanded strict legal action.
• Rights groups, political parties, and press organisations condemned the incident as a severe blow to press freedom.
• Lawyers announced a countrywide strike in solidarity after several of their colleagues were also arrested outside the club.

Police Storm Press Club in Pursuit of Protesters

Eyewitnesses said dozens of police personnel entered the NPC cafeteria and kitchen, allegedly pursuing a few protesters who had sought shelter inside. Officers beat journalists, broke cameras, smashed crockery, and briefly detained staff.

“More than 100 police officials were deployed to handle a few dozen protesters,” one witness said, adding that the Kohsar SHO led the team, with senior police officers also seen at the scene.

Half a dozen people were reportedly arrested from inside and outside the press club, though police did not issue an official statement by the time of filing this report.

‘Black Day’ for Press Freedom

The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors, and the Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors termed the raid “terrorism”.

“This is one of the darkest days in Pakistan’s history,” PFUJ President Afzal Butt said, announcing a Black Day across the country and emergency sessions to decide a future strategy.
“The press club is our second home. Never before has the police stormed it like this,” he added.

Journalist bodies warned that if this incident went unchecked, press clubs in other cities could face similar attacks, underscoring the gravity of the situation for media freedom nationwide.

Condemnations and Inquiry

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), PTI, and several opposition parties condemned the assault. HRCP demanded that those responsible be held accountable through a transparent investigation.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi ordered an inquiry and sought a report from the Islamabad IGP, calling the incident “unfortunate” and saying violence against journalists would not be tolerated.

Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry visited the NPC to apologize on behalf of the police, while Information Minister Attaullah Tarar called the incident “regrettable” and assured journalists of a full investigation.

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Lawyers Announce Strike

Police also arrested several lawyers outside the NPC, prompting the District Bar Association to announce a complete strike and call a general body meeting to decide further action.

The lawyers’ community denounced the arrests as unlawful and vowed to support journalists in seeking accountability.

Wider Concerns About Media Crackdown

Journalists and human rights defenders linked the raid to a broader pattern of pressure on the media, pointing to PECA cybercrime cases, threatening advertisements targeting journalists, and labelling of reporters as “anti-state”.

“If the National Press Club is not safe from police, then no press club is,” PFUJ leaders warned.

Prominent journalists including Hamid Mir, Talat Hussain, Matiullah Jan, and Mazhar Abbas described the incident as “shameful”, “unprecedented”, and reminiscent of dictatorial eras under Zia-ul-Haq and Pervez Musharraf.

Press Freedom at Stake

The attack on Islamabad’s National Press Club has deeply shaken Pakistan’s journalist community, raising alarm about press freedom and rule of law. Rights groups and journalist bodies are demanding criminal accountability for the police officers and their superiors, compensation for damages, and formal guarantees that such an incident will not be repeated.

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