Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has condemned the recent attack on a photojournalist covering the ongoing teachers’ protest in Rawalpindi.
According to the details, senior photojournalist Faisal Khan was covering the protest of the teachers when the Punjab police baton charged him. A video of the photojournalist is making the rounds on social media, showing him severely injured.
President of PFUJ Afzal Butt condemned the incident and urged Punjab Chief Minister Parvez Elahi to take action.
Read more: Punjab Police mistreats PTI leader Dr. Yasmin Rashid (video)
“PFUJ strongly condemns Rawalpindi police torture of photojournalist Faisal Khan who was covering teachers’ demonstration. Chief Minister Punjab Chaudhry Pervez Elahi take immediate notice of the incident,” Afzal Butt tweeted.
اساتذہ کرام کے مظاہرے کی کوریج کرنے والے فوٹو جرنلسٹ فیصل خان پر راولپنڈی پولیس کا تشدد، پی ایف یو جے اس کی شدید مذمت کرتی ہے، وزیر اعلی پنجاب چودھری پرویز الہی واقعہ کا فوری نوٹس لیں ، افضل بٹ صدر پی ایف یو جے۔ pic.twitter.com/CUeqNerxMH
— Afzal Butt (@Afzalbutt01) August 4, 2022
Important to note that the Punjab police are notorious for resorting to violent means and also for taking strict action against journalists.
Teachers protest in Rawalpindi
The government on Saturday appointed Azam Kashif as the chief of the District Education Authority. In the past, the official was appointed twice in the district but transferred on the demand of teachers and clerks.
Punjab Teachers Association and Punjab Clerks Association expressed their resentment and said the official was appointed third-time in the district but teachers and clerks would not accept him because of his behavior. They said there was no political agenda of the teachers and clerks, however, they alleged the chief executive officer’s attitude towards teachers and staff, especially female teachers, was very inappropriate and indecent.
Read more: College teachers protest for structural service reforms
All organizations in Rawalpindi working for the rights of teachers and clerks rejected the reappointment and protested against him. The protesting teachers said that the protest will continue till the removal of Azam Kashif. Government teachers have already locked the office of Chief Executive Officer Education, Rawalpindi for the last five days.