The CPNE, taking note that the attack appeared to be in retaliation to the publication of an interview of the Israeli Deputy Prime Minister, Shimon Peres in The News International and relayed on (Geo Television).
The meeting condemned, in the strongest possible terms, the dastardly attack and also expressed shock that contingents of the police, including a mobile van - specifically stationed at the Jang Group offices to prevent just such an attack -looked on as unconcerned bystanders and made absolutely no attempt to either challenge, stop, or pursue the attackers.
The hooligans, numbering 30 to 40, on motorbikes, were able to attack the offices of the Daily Jang, the Daily Awam and Geo Television with impunity. They ransacked offices smashed furniture/equipment and windows, fired indiscriminately broke open cash boxes, manhandled guards and newspaper staff members and destroyed over a dozen cars belonging to journalists, while the police looked on.
The CPNE considered this to be a direct attack on the freedom of the Press and condemns all such acts which demonstrate intolerance. The CPNE reminded the government of its responsibility with regard to providing protection to members of the fourth estate and indeed to all citizens.
It called on the government to institute an inquiry headed by a serving Judge of the High Court to inquire as to who was behind this attack and the role of the police stationed at the Jang offices. It also called on the Sindh Government to compensate journalists for losses to their private cars and other property that was damaged during the attack.
The meeting felt that the attack was a blatant attempt at Newspapers and newsmen and preventing the publication of news not savoured by the hooligans who carried out the attack. The meeting said the Newspapers editors strongly reject all such threats and attempts to subvert press freedom and shall not be coerced into doing what these terrorists want.
The meeting expressed solidarity with the Jang group of Newspapers and declared that attack on anyone Newspaper amounted to attack on all newspapers. Therefore, CPNE shall face up all challenges and uphold the torch of press freedom in keeping with the, traditions of the pioneers of press freedom from among the editors community of Pakistan.
The meeting was attended by Anwar Farooqi (Daily Aghaz Karachi) Dr Jabbar Khattak (Daily Awami Awaz Karachi), Mahmudul Aziz (News Agency UPP Karachi), Shahrukh Hassan (Daily Jang Karachi), Wamiq Zuberi (Daily Business Recorder Karachi), Sajjad Mir (Daily Nawa-e-Waqt Karachi), Ilyas Shakir (Daily Qaumi Akhbar Karachi) Mushtaq Ahmed Qureshi (Monthly Nai Ufaq Karachi), Owais Aslam Ali (News Agency PPI Karachi), Aamir Mahmood (Monthly Kiran Karachi), Jawed Maher Shamsi (Daily Kalim Sukkur), Waqar Yosuf Azeemi (Monthly Roohani Digest Karachi), Yonus Riaz (Daily Beopar Karachi), Naseer Hashmi (Daily Ummat Karachi), Abdul Khaliq (News Agency On Line Karachi), Najamuddin Shaikh (Daily Deyanat Karachi), Ghulam Nabi Chandio (Daily Pakistan Karachi) and Usman Saati (Daily Vatan Gujrati) and Imran Aslam (GEO Tv ) among others.-PR