The National Press Club (NPC) Islamabad has condemned the alleged abduction and assault of senior journalist and executive member Shahid Qureshi by the Sarhad University faculty.
In a press release issued by the NPC, the members condemned the act of crime committed by the staff of Sarhad University and said that Shahid Qureshi was allegedly subjected to violence and detained for several hours by the faculty staff, calling for those responsible to be held accountable.
It described the incident as a serious violation of press freedom and the rights of journalists.
The statement was issued by the National Press Club’s president Abdul Razzaq Sial, secretary Dr Furqan Rao and finance secretary Abid Abbasi, along with other members of its governing body.
The press club said journalists should be able to perform their professional duties without fear, pressure or intimidation.
The National Press Club urged the relevant authorities to investigate the incident and take action against anyone found responsible.
It also called for measures to prevent similar incidents involving journalists and said attacks or threats against members of the media should not be tolerated.
The statement further called for journalists to be provided with a safe environment in which they can carry out their professional responsibilities independently.
The allegations have not been independently verified, and details of the circumstances surrounding the reported incident remain limited.
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