A cameraman belonging to Samaa TV was violently assaulted by security guards from former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's protocol on Monday.

The incident took place as Sharif was departing after chairing a meeting of senior PML-N leaders at Parliament House.

TV footage shows the cameraman, Syed Wajid Ali of Samaa TV, lying on the ground outside the parliament building after a security guard allegedly shoved him for coming in the way of the PML-N supreme leader while recording him.

In a shocking turn of events, another guard is then seen rushing towards the cameraman and kicking him squarely in the face. The guard then escapes the scene in one of the vehicles of the protocol.

The cameraman, who lost consciousness due to the kick, was shifted to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims). According to doctors, Ali sustained injuries on his lip, where he was administered three stitches, and on his head.

Cameraman Wajid Ali at the hospital. — Photo by author
Cameraman Wajid Ali at the hospital. — Photo by author

Doctors said the cameraman is out of danger but he will be kept under observation for at least a day.

Journalists started a protest at the parliament to condemn the attack on Ali, with PML-N promising strict action against the security guards.

While one of the security personnel involved in the attack has been arrested, the guard who kicked the cameraman is currently on the run.

National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser immediately ordered that a first information report (FIR) be registered against the attacker. He banned politicians from bringing their security guards inside the parliament's premises in the future.

"No matter how big a leader somebody is, they should leave their security [protocol] outside the parliament," the speaker said.

Nawaz Sharif condemned the assault in a statement, saying he was "deeply saddened" by it.

PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb said the guards involved in the violence will be punished as severely as possible. Apologising on behalf of her party, she said the PML-N greatly respects journalists and the media community.

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry too condemned the incident and criticised Sharif for not stopping to check the cameraman after he was injured.

"The government [of PML-N] has ended, but their Moguls-like mentality has not," Chaudhry taunted.

"The [PTI] government fully believes in freedom of expression and stands with the media workers," he added, promising legal action against the guards.

Condemning the "thuggery" of Sharif's security guards, the Parliamentary Reporters Association in a statement said it had been assured by the police and government that the suspects would be apprehended within 24 hours.

Opinion

Editorial

Defining extremism
Updated 18 Mar, 2024

Defining extremism

Redefining extremism may well be the first step to clamping down on advocacy for Palestine.
Climate in focus
18 Mar, 2024

Climate in focus

IN a welcome order by the Supreme Court, the new government has been tasked with providing a report on actions taken...
Growing rabies concern
18 Mar, 2024

Growing rabies concern

DOG-BITE is an old problem in Pakistan. Amid a surfeit of public health challenges, rabies now seems poised to ...
Provincial share
Updated 17 Mar, 2024

Provincial share

PPP has aptly advised Centre to worry about improving its tax collection rather than eying provinces’ share of tax revenues.
X-communication
17 Mar, 2024

X-communication

IT has now been a month since Pakistani authorities decided that the country must be cut off from one of the...
Stateless humanity
17 Mar, 2024

Stateless humanity

THE endless hostility between India and Pakistan has reduced prisoners to mere statistics. Although the two ...