In a show of solidarity with their colleague and senior reporter Ahmad Noorani, journalists continued to protest across the whole country against the attack which left Noorani severely injured, and also set up a hunger strike camp outside the Press Information Department in Islamabad.
The attack on Noorani occurred on Friday when he was on his way home to Islamabad from Rawalpindi. Some unidentified assailants attacked and critically injured the journalist after which he was rushed to Islamabad PIMS where he remains under treatment.
His car was stopped by three men travelling on a motorcycle near Zero Point Interchange. The attackers got down from their unmarked motorcycle after chasing down Noorani’s car while three more of their accomplices, who were standing where the car was stopped with another unmarked motorcycle, joined in and severely beat up Noorani and his driver with iron rods after snatching car keys.
Journalists and members of the civil society have been observing a hunger strike against the attack on the senior reporter and have demanded the authorities to arrest perpetrators of the attack and provide security to the journalists. The incident prompted condemnations from noted political and social figures and media representatives.
Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) DG Major General Asif Ghafoor also condemned the incident. He sent a bouquet to the injured journalist and prayed for his speedy recovery. Pakistan’s permanent representative to the United Nations Maleeha Lodhi and Nobel Laureate Malala Yousufzai were also among the ones who denounced the cowardly act.
