Journalists in Pakistan continue to face persecution, and in extreme cases, torture and death. A local journalist in the Bhakkar district of Punjab faced a similar feat when he was brutally tortured. However, police have taken strict action and arrested the culprit for torturing the journalist.
According to the details by Punjab Police, Bhakkar Police arrested the accused who tortured local journalist Haseeb Gondal. A case was registered against the accused and he was handed over to the Jandanwala police station, in Bhakkar district where the incident took place.
PML-Q leader Moonis Elahi – who is also the son of Punjab Chief Minister Parvez Elahi- also shared the picture of the culprit behind bars in an apparent bid to let the citizens know that justice has been served.
SHOتھانہ جنڈانوالہ نے صحافی حسیب گوندل پر تشدد کرنے والے ملزم کےخلاف مقدمہ درج رجسٹرڈ کرکے نامزدملزم کو فوری گرفتار کرکے بند حوالات تھانہ جنڈانوالہ میں کردیا ملزمان کتنے ہی بااثر کیوں نہ ہو قانون کی گرفت سے نہیں بچ سکتے ۔
ترجمان بھکر پولیس https://t.co/Vv5EnLTQJY pic.twitter.com/NuzgGtktZ2— Moonis Elahi (@MoonisElahi6) December 16, 2022
Earlier, a video went viral on social media of a local journalist being whipped by two men for allegedly reporting the malpractices of the police. Pertinent to mention, the Punjab Police in its statement said that the incident took place due to a grudge. Nevertheless, the men in the video can be seen whipping journalist Haseeb Gondal and demanding he leave journalism.
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The video caused a storm on social media as netizens condemned the inhumane treatment of the journalist. Netizens and members from the journalistic community urged Punjab Chief Minister Parvez Elahi to take note of the incident and demanded the police authorities take strict action.
بھکرمیں پولیس کیخلاف خبر دینے والے صحافی حسیب گوندل پر بہیمانہ تشدد۔ پولیس کیخلاف خبریں دینے اور صحافت سے توبہ کرنے پر اصرار۔
وزیر اعلی پنجاب اور آئی جی پولیس واقعہ کا نوٹس لیں۔ انسانیت کی تذلیل کرنے والے عناصر کو نشان عبرت بنایا جائے۔ pic.twitter.com/BWnbsj5DqZ— Afzal Butt (@Afzalbutt01) December 15, 2022
And still journalist protection Bill is in awaiting list.#haseebgondal https://t.co/ksbxJBKV4t
— Saddia Mazhar|سعدیہ مظہر (@SaddiaMazhar) December 16, 2022
Journalists in Pakistan face a tough time and are often subjected to violence. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) in its recent report revealed that five deaths of journalists took place this year in Pakistan amid the political crisis, including the grisly murder in Kenya of Arshad Sharif.
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