Police attack journalists in Islamabad

September 29, 2007
Posted October 1, 2007

More than 20 journalists
ATTACKED

Police used tear gas and batons against a group of more than 20 journalists outside the Election Commission in the Supreme Court building in Islamabad. Police said they were trying to clear a path for officials leaving the building. The journalists were covering the review of the nomination papers of presidential candidates, and had staged a sit-in outside the building to protest the government’s decision to bar journalists working for independent media outlets from covering the process. Scores of lawyers protesting the candidacy of President General Pervez Musharraf were also injured in the incident.

On October 1, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chauhdry ordered the immediate suspensions of the Inspector General Islamabad Syed Marwat Ali Shah, Senior Superintendent Police Naeem Khan and Deputy Commissioner Chaudhry Muhammad Ali.