ISLAMABAD: After receiving threats from unknown persons in the recent past, Dawn Islamabad’s crime reporter found his car locks tampered with.

Munawer Azeem had been receiving threats from people who had been claiming to be personnel of Islamabad police.

After the matter was taken up with the senior officials of the Islamabad police, some unknown persons reached his house and hurled threats at his wife.

On Monday morning when Munawer Azeem was taking his children to school, he found his car locks tampered with and someone had even entered the vehicle.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and the Rawalpindi Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) condemned harassment of Dawn’s reporter.

PFUJ President Shahzada Zulfiqar and Secretary General Nasir Zaidi demanded the government and the Islamabad police to ensure safety and security of all mediapersons.

In separate statements, the PFUJ and RIUJ said the government had failed to ensure protect the lives and properties of journalists.

Journalists very often encounter harassment and even kidnapping by unknown persons, and these incidents were also bringing a bad name for the country.

The RIUJ also criticised the behaviour of the police personnel who even refused to receive the application against tampering of the vehicle’s locks.

The RIUJ said if Mr Azeem and his family faced any harm, the interior minister and IG Islamabad police would be held responsible.

Meanwhile, the Employees Union Dawn, Islamabad and the Dawn Workers Union, Lahore, have also condemned the threats hurled on Munawer Azeem.

Published in Dawn, March 2nd, 2022