IFJ Condemns Attack on Office of TV Broadcaster in Pakistan

March 21, 2012

IFJ Condemns Attack on Office of Television Broadcaster in Pakistan

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its affiliate the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) strongly condemn the attack on the office building of television broadcaster Geo TV in Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city, on the morning of Tuesday March 20.

During the attack, armed motorcyclists fired upon the private television broadcaster's building and smashed the windows of the news channel's satellite van. Reports indicate that no injuries were sustained during the attack.

The shooting follows another incident on Monday March 19, where it was reported that Geo TV’s digital satellite cable wires were cut and the technicians sent to repair the wires were threatened.

In a statement, PFUJ President Pervaiz Shaukat said the latest attack on the Geo TV building reflected an increasing incidence of violence against the media in Pakistan. He called upon the government to immediately find and arrest those responsible. PFUJ Secretary-General Amin Yousuf also announced that if the attackers were not brought to justice, the PFUJ would stage a country-wide protest.

“The IFJ joins the PFUJ in demanding a thorough investigation of the attack on Geo TV’s office building”, IFJ Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park said.

“Authorities must respond with urgency to the alarming regularity of attacks against journalists in Pakistan, and end the impunity which prevails for murder, assault and abduction of media personnel across the country”.

In 2011, as many as ten journalists were killed and many more injured, making Pakistan the most dangerous country for journalists for the second year in a row.

Earlier this year, senior journalist Mukaram Khan Atif was killed near his home in Shabqadar Town, Charsadda, in Pakistan’s central Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on January 17, 2012.

The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 131 countries

Find the IFJ on Twitter: @ifjasiapacific

Find the IFJ on Facebook: www.facebook.com/IFJAsiaPacific

ENDS

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