Media channel Wion’s Pakistan bureau chief Taha Siddiqui was allegedly beaten up by a group of 10-12 people in Islamabad on Wednesday, 10 January. According to the channel , the journalist has been taken to hospital for a medical examination.
Siddiqui “narrowly escaped abduction", after he was pulled out of a car by 10-12 people while on his way to the airport, the channel stated. He was robbed off all his belongings, including his phone and passport.
Tweeting from Dawn correspondent Cyril Almeida’s account, Siddiqui said:
Taha Siddiqui, who won France's highest journalism award the Albert Londres prize in 2014, alleged that the perpetrators had attempted to abduct him and threatened to kill him.
WION reported that Siddiqui had filed a writ petition with the Islamabad High Court in May 2017, alleging harassment at the hands of the Federal Investigation Agency. The FIA had summoned Siddiqui to its headquarters for questioning over his reportage. When Siddiqui questioned the summons, the agency refused to answer, allegedly threatening him by saying it would “be better” if he showed up.
Journos Condemn Attack
The attack comes months after reporter Ahmed Noorani was beaten and stabbed in the head after being dragged out of his car in Islamabad by armed assailants, PTI reported. Pakistan has a history of enforced disappearances, particularly in conflict zones near the border with Afghanistan, or in restive Balochistan province, the PTI report added. Reporters are detained, beaten and even killed for their reportage which is critical of the military establishment. The attack on Siddiqui has drawn widespread condemnation in the journalistic community.
BBC’s Pakistan Correspondent tweeted a video of the journalist describing the unfortunate incident.
Asad Hashim, an Al Jazeera correspondent tweeted:
Wall Street Journal correspondent Saeed Shah tweeted:
The Rawalpindi/Islamabad Union of Journalists has also condemned the episode.
This is extremely worrying and reinforces the fear that human rights groups and media organisations have voiced for a while now that the Pakistan government views violence as an instrument of dealing with dissenting voices. This is also a reflection of the impunity that has existed for a long time, and has been increasing recently.Saroop Ijaz, Human Rights Watch country representative, in a statement
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)