Unidentified gunmen Wednesday lobbed a hand grenade and opened fire at the office of a leading television channel in Islamabad, injuring at least one worker, the TV channel reported. ARY TV reported that two gunmen, riding a motorcycle, fled after the attack. The TV said the Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility. The attackers also left behind a pamphlet. ARY showed footage of the attack outside the gate and at least one gunshot and the injured worker. The injured was shifted to hospital.

Bureau Chief of the TV channel, Sabir Shakir, said the blast smashed some windows and caused damage to studios and vehicles. The management said that the security guards at the gate stopped the attackers from entering the office. Soon after the attack, heavy contingent of the Islamabad police, Rangers and Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) including high-ups of city police and Rangers reached at the scene and cordoned off the area. The BDS officials collected evidence from the scene and started investigation.

The city police and the Rangers also launched search operation in the nearby areas and also started investigation of the incident. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif denounced the attack and issued directives to the authorities to provide security to news channels' employees.Information Minister, Pervez Rashid, condemned the attack and assured investigation into the incident. Media organisations also condemned the attack and announced protest demonstrations on Thursday.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2016