Journalist bodies have condemned firing by armed suspects outside the residence of The News crime reporter Faraz Khan and threats being issued to him and his family.
Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) President Ijaz Ahmed, General Secretary Lubna Jarrar Naqvi, Vice Presidents Muhammad Nasir Sharif and Rahib Gaho and other office-bearers condemned the firing outside the residence of Khan and called for the Sindh home minister, inspector general of police (IGP) and other authorities to take immediate notice of the incident, ensure arrests of the perpetrators and provide security to the journalist and his family.
The Association of Court Reporters (ACR) also condemned the armed attack on the residence of The News reporter and expressed concern over the failure of law enforcement agencies to take action against those threatening him.
The ACR urged the Sindh IGP and home minister to take immediate notice of the incident that took place on the night between July 7 and 8, and ensure that the perpetrators were brought to justice.
The association also demanded that the authorities provide security to Khan and his family under the Journalists Protection Act. Khan, who is a senior crime reporter working for The News, governing body member of The News Employees’ Union, and a member of the Karachi Press Club, KUJ and Crime Reporters Association, lamented on Sunday that four days had passed since the firing incident, but no action had been taken against those responsible. He stated that he and his family continued to receive threats from the suspects following the firing outside his residence at a housing society in Gulzar-e-Hijri Sector 27-A within the jurisdiction of the Sacchal Police Station.
According to Khan, armed men opened fire outside his house, creating panic and fear in his family as well as residents of the society. Videos of the incident were subsequently shared with the police, relevant authorities and circulated on social media and in the media, but the perpetrators did not face any action.
The journalist said he had submitted written applications seeking protection and legal action to the chairman of the Journalists Protection Commission Sindh, Commission for the Protection of Journalists and Media Persons Pakistan, Karachi Press Club, director general of the Pakistan Rangers (Sindh), IGP, Karachi additional inspector general of police, and the DIG and SSP of District East police.
