July 08, 2008	Tuesday	Rajab 4, 1429

ISLAMABAD, July 7: Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has condemned the recent incidents of manhandling, kidnapping, unlawful confinement and torture of journalists.

Citing incidents of violence against Pir Zubair Shah, Akhtar Soomro of New York Times, Absar Alam of GEO channel, and Wiqar Kiyani of the Guardian, the PFUJ demanded stern action against those responsible.

PFUJ secretary-general Mazhar Abbas in a statement issued here on Monday also condemned registration of cases against journalists in interior of Sindh. He demanded withdrawal of all those cases registered against journalists since November 27 last year.

PFUJ condemned the manhandling of the senior journalist and bureau chief of GEO, Islamabad, Absar Alam allegedly by the relatives and friends of former Punjab chief minister. Those responsible for the incident were released by the police after few hours.

“Those who tried to assault Mr Alam must be taken to task ,” it said.

In another incident unidentified people kidnapped Wiqar Kiyani, an stinger for British newspaper Guardian on Sunday night. Earlier, on his return from Karachi, where he was doing a story on a British national Sohaib Siddiqui.

He was told that his house in G-8/1, was raided by unknown persons. But apparently nothing was robbed or were found missing from his home. He disappeared an hour after he contacted PFUJ and informed about his ordeal. Mr Kiyani was freed after allegedly been tortured with a warning not to follow the story or tell about his ordeal. He was thrown from a vehicle near Mianwali.

Following the release of two abducted journalists — Pir Zubair Shah and Akhtar Soomro — by Taliban, they were detained allegedly by the security agencies for questioning and have not been freed yet.

The statement said Federal Information Minister Sherry Rehman had assured the PFUJ that she would take up these incidents with the authorities concerned.

“These incidents were of grave concern for us and simply unacceptable,” PFUJ secretary-general said.