By Ashrafuddin Pirzada
LANDIKOTAL: An emergency meeting of the District Press Club Landikotal was held on Monday under the chairmanship of president Aman Ali Shinwari to condemn the alleged raid by masked gunmen in police uniform on the press club and the violation of its sanctity and intimidation of journalists.
Members of the press club and freelance journalists attended the meeting and strongly condemned the incident, describing it as an attempt to undermine press freedom and intimidate journalists.
The participants urged relevant stakeholders and authorities to ensure the safety and security of journalists and provide them with a safe and conducive environment to carry out their professional duties without fear or interference.
They also demanded an independent, impartial and transparent inquiry into the incident and called for legal action against the personnel found responsible.
The journalists thanked Jamrud Press Club, Bara Press Club, political and social figures and journalist organizations for condemning the incident and expressing solidarity with the journalist community.
The meeting decided to boycott all activities and news related to Landikotal police until legal proceedings are initiated and a comprehensive, independent investigation into the incident is conducted.
Reaffirming their commitment to press freedom, the journalists vowed that they would not compromise on their professional independence or succumb to intimidation.
The participants also expressed concern over the increasingly difficult and dangerous circumstances facing journalists and human rights defenders across the region, from Khyber to Waziristan. They said threats, intimidation and restrictions on independent reporting were making it increasingly challenging for media workers and rights defenders to perform their duties safely. The meeting also demanded protection for the members who have repeatedly been harassed and threatened by terrorists for their factual and human rights news.
They called on national and international media organizations, press freedom bodies and human rights organizations to step forward, support journalists at risk and take practical measures to protect their lives, freedom of expression and ability to report independently.
