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Broadcast journalist Asad Kharal was beaten by masked men in Lahore on Tuesday, police said.
SP Bilal Zaffar Cantonment Division confirmed the attack on Bol TV anchor Kharal, whose car was intercepted by masked men who physically assaulted him.
Asad Kharal has been beaten up in Lahore by unknown men. He was stopped near Lahore Airport. pic.twitter.com/5pScl02htO
— Amir Hussain PTI (@AmirHussainPTI) June 5, 2018
Kharal was then taken to Services Hospital to be treated for his injuries.
Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar on Wednesday took suo motu notice of the incident, asking the inspector general (IG) Punjab to submit a report on the incident within 24 hours.
Earlier, journalists from various media outlets all over Pakistan condemned the attack on Kharal. Hamid Mir, a senior journalist, tweeted:
"You can differ with the views of a journalist and you can even criticise him, but no one has the right to attack any journalist or peaceful citizen. This attack on Asad Kharal is condemnable. The injuries on the body of Kharal are reflecting the injuries of media freedom in Pakistan."
Journalist and news anchor Nasim Zehra was also vocal against the attack and tweeted:
"What the hell is happening? Just saw this pretty bloody attack on Asad Kharal. Totally condemnable. Catch attackers and kidnappers fast."
What the hell is happening ??? Just saw this pretty bloody attack on Asad Kharal. Totally condemnable. Catch attackers #& kidnappers fast https://t.co/lHtZb1Ehgj
— Nasim Zehra (@NasimZehra) June 5, 2018
Pakistani journalist Wasim Abbas also took to Twitter to condemn the attack and said:
Stay safe Asad Kharal..attack on any journalist is condemned..#FreedomOfSpeech https://t.co/BTCFN2VQOv
— Waseem Abbasi (@Wabbasi007) June 5, 2018
"Stay safe Asad Kharal. Attack on any journalist is condemned. #FreedomOfSpeech."
In April, a Reporters Without Borders report said the Pakistani media was regarded as among the most vibrant in Asia but due to pressure being exerted by extremist groups and intelligence agencies it was increasingly resorting to self-censorship.
In a separate incident, police confirmed that journalist and activist Gul Bukhari was abducted by unknown persons in Lahore on Tuesday night. Early on Wednesday, her family confirmed she was home and “fine”.
Comments (19) Closed
The term Sicilian Mafia explains it all. Stay safe.
A vocal person is abducted and after "treatment" is found at home , safe and mute.
It is the first step/warning to gag the free media to restrict them not to freely express their views, otherwise, you know how you will be treated.It must be stopped and those responsible to be exposed and tried under the law.
part of the pmln plan.
I strongly condemn attack on Asad Kharral. Whoever is involved must be brought to justice, I expect severe punishment for them. No one should try to silence us by attacking on us.
Intolerance on rise in Pakistan.
Truth is a rare commodity to find
Yet another example, where the local Police, the Chief Minister or the Governor the Province are unconcerned about a crime. Only the CJP takes notice of all such injustices and crimes aroound the country. The civilian governments have simply failed.
Such a sham of democracy when people cannot count on the civil admin to do their job!
And we talk about injustice elsewhere..
First question that needs answering: Who is doing this??
It's them again.
Good Drama either by BOL TV or the same persons who beat Ahmad Noorani in Islamabad and Hamid Meer in Karachi
Anyone with an IQ of 10 knows who is behind this attack.
Please improve security that has been lost in the previous government
No surprises there
Everyone knows who did it. But no one will dare say it out loud.
Wonder who could be those goons belong to a political party? Now we have to see which political party is strong in Lahore area.
@pakistan deserves better My IQ is 9, please explain
He has learnt his lesson and will stay quiet now. I guess?