Senior journalist escapes assassination attempt in Islamabad
Wed, Apr 21 2021 18:06 IST |
2 Views
Senior journalist escapes assassination attempt in Islamabad. Image Source: IANS News
Islamabad, April 21 : Pakistan continues to remain as one of the most unsafe countries for journalists, as targeted attacks, abductions, killings and assassination attempts on senior scribes continue unabated.
In a latest tragic incident in capital Islamabad, senior journalist and former chairman of Pakistan Electronic Media Authority (PEMRA), Absar Alam, was shot at in broad daylight by unknown attackers.
In a video message shared on social media, Absar Alam could be seen stating that he was shot at outside his house.
Ex-PEMRA chairman Absar Alam shot near his residence in Islamabad
Senior journalist and former chairman of the Pakistan Electronic Media Authority (Pemra) Absar Alam was shot near his residence in Islamabad on Tuesday.
In a video statement, which doing rounds on social media, the journalist while apparently being taken to hospital can be heard saying that he was attacked while walking outside his home.
Absar said that he suffered injuries to his ribs.
In a message to the unidentified attackers the former Pemra chief said: “I won’t be scared by such tactics and I won’t give up.”
Gunman attacks Senior journalist @AbsarAlamHaider outside his house in Islamabad. Thoughts and prayers. #absaralampic.twitter.com/CybTleTIWQ Murtaza Ali Shah (@MurtazaViews) April 20, 2021
Police Register Case Against ‘Unidentified Man’ Over Attack on Absar Alam
Police Register Case Against ‘Unidentified Man’ Over Attack on Absar Alam
File photo
Politicians, journalist and human rights bodies condemn incident and urge authorities to investigate and apprehend the culprits
Police in Islamabad on Tuesday registered a case against an unidentified man for opening fire on senior journalist Absar Alam and leaving him injured.
The former chairman of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) was shot in his torso while he walking in a park in the federal capital’s F-11 area. A subsequent video statement released by him while in a car was widely shared on social media. In it, he said he had “shot by someone,” adding that he had a message for the people responsible: “I will not be intimidated.”
Alam, who is the former chairman of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) and former editor of
Daily Nation, Islamabad was shot in Islamabad on April 20, as he was taking an evening stroll near his house. An unidentified man jumped over the fence of the park, fired at Alam and escaped. Police have registered a criminal case against unidentified men for firing on Alam.
Alam was rushed to the hospital by his friends. Although injured, Alam recorded a video on the way to the hospital in which he said he had been struck on his ribs. In a note of defiance Alam declared: “My message to those who did this is that I am not going to be scared by such tactics.”
Pak journalist Absar Alam shot in Islamabad ANI | Updated: Apr 20, 2021 23:01 IST
In a video message, he said I ve been hit in my ribs and added that he had not lost hope.
He added in a video shared by another Pakistani journalist, Asad Toor, My message to those who did this is that I am not going to be scared by such tactics .
Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) strongly condemned the incident and demanded that the attackers be arrested immediately. It seems that deep state is at large against journalist community who are victims of rising crime and terrorism in the country, it said in a statement.