ISLAMABAD: The attacks on Taha Siddiqui and other Pakistani journalists must be immediately and effectively investigated by the authorities, Amnesty International said on Wednesday, calling for an end to impunity for such attacks.
Taha Siddiqui was driving to Islamabad airport at 8:20am on Wednesday when the car he was traveling in was besieged by at least 10 armed men, who beat him, threatened to kill him, and tried to abduct him. The assailants they took his possessions, including his passport, laptop, and mobile phone.
“Pakistani journalists like Taha Siddiqui have a right to carry out their work freely and without fear. Journalism is not a crime, but attacking journalists is. These crimes must be immediately and effectively investigated. All journalists should be provided the protection they require. And there must be a clear and unequivocal commitment by the Pakistani authorities to end impunity for attacks on journalists,” said Omar Waraich, Deputy South Asia Director at Amnesty International.
In 2017, journalists Rana Tanveeer, Matiullah Jan and Ahmad Noorani all came under attack by unidentified assailants. Three years earlier, in 2014, journalists Hamid Mir and Raza Rumi narrowly survived attempted assassinations by gunmen. NNI
