26 June 2004	Saturday	07 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425

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LAHORE, June 25: Journalists who had gone to attend a press conference of the director-general of the Pakistan Postal Services, Maj-Gen (retd) Masoodul Hassan were assaulted by his staff when they wanted to leave the venue here on Friday. The attack was led by a serving army officer.

The Islampura police later registered a case of assault and illegal detention against the army officer and four officials of the postal department on the complaint of the journalists.

Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi expressed regrets over the incident and promised to take the matter to the president and seek action against the officials.

The incident took place when some journalists left the press conference. They were stopped by the deputy director of the postal services' vigilance wing, Maj Mansoor Noor. "You can't leave because the director-general has not finished," the journalists were told.

He manhandled a journalist who objected to his conduct. Around two dozen postal staff personnel surrounded the four journalists, while the army officer snatched their cell phones, locked the room from inside and started beating them up.

Other journalists who attempted to help their colleagues were also assaulted.

Journalists covering the Punjab Assembly session staged a walkout to register their protest against the attack. Opposition MPAs also walked out to demonstrate solidarity with the journalists.

The Lahore Press Club complained to the president, the Lahore corps commander and the director-general of the ISPR about the incident.