The government resorted to strong-hand tactics on Monday as journalists staging peaceful protests against the illegal closure of 24NewsHD TV channel were fired upon and lathi-charged in different cities of the country.

Shots were fired on the protesting newsmen outside the office of Pemra in Islamabad as the journalists were staging a peaceful demonstration to record their protests.

First, the Pemra’s security guards scuffled with the journalists and then opened fire on them. The peaceful journalists were then lathi-charged in presence of the Islamabad deputy commissioner and were also pelted with stones.

According to reports, a Pemra official came out of the office and hurled abuses at the journalists and threatened them. He asked the journalists to end their protest and leave the area. The security guards accompanying him started firing in presence of the police and assistant commissioner of the area.

They also attacked the journalists with batons and threw stones on the journalists. The police and assistant commissioner remained silent spectators and did not intervene or tried to stop the Pemra’s guards from this heinous act.

Meanwhile, at Thokar Niaz Baig in Lahore, some miscreants attacked the protesting camp of journalists causing head injury to one of the newsmen. The police present at the scene did neither intervene nor took any action against the stone-throwing attackers.

Condemnations

Secretary PFUJ Rana Azeem strongly condemned the Pemra’s actions and warned the government of dire consequences if any harm was caused to the journalists.

Former Finance Minister Ishaq Dar strongly condemned firing and attack on the journalists and said such actions of the government were unconstitutional and illegal and depict the fascist approach of the government.

https://twitter.com/MIshaqDar50/status/1280139963875631104

Pakistan People's Party leader Senator Sherry Rehman condemned the attack on media persons in Lahore and Islamabad in a twitter post.

She teweeted: "Shocking and condemnable brutality on employees of @Channel24in Islamabad and Lahore - firing and stone pelting on media workers struggling to retain their jobs."

https://twitter.com/sherryrehman/status/1280124490324852739

PML-N leader Marriyum Aurazngzeb, in a series of tweets, strongly condemned the attack on the protesting journalists.

https://twitter.com/Marriyum_A/status/1280133701465243648