November 22, 2007	Thursday	Ziqa’ad 11, 1428

FAISALABAD, Nov 21: Police on Wednesday baton-charged and tear-gassed journalists protesting against emergency rule and curbs on the media at the press club here on Wednesday. Sixteen media personnel were arrested.

Police cordoned off the area when the protesting journalists started gathering at the press club. Police entered the club, used batons and fired teargas shells to stop journalists from taking out a procession.

Around a dozen journalists, including a woman, were injured in the police action.

A TV journalist, who recorded the police brutality on his video camera, was severely beaten and dragged on the road by police.

The detained journalists were later released on the directives of DIG (Operations) Aslam Tareen.

Police after the attack sealed the press club and journalists were not allowed to take their vehicles parked inside the boundary.

The police high-ups justified the action and said that police are left with no option but to stop the protesters from taking out the rally.

Journalists decided to hold a protest against the police action on Thursday.

In Quetta, police detained 25 journalists for taking out a rally and trying to hold demonstration in front of the Pemra office here on Wednesday.

They were prevented from marching to the Pemra office to express their anger at the closure of two private news channels.

Police blocked the road and did not allow the journalists continue their march.

Later in the evening police released all the arrested journalists.