Baloch Journalist Bilal Baloch Exposes State Repression in Geneva
October 2, 2025
U.S. Deports Atlanta Journalist Mario Guevara Amid Press Freedom Outcry
October 3, 2025
October 03, 2025 – Pakistan –
During protests over the situation in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, law enforcement officers on October 2, 2025, forcefully entered Islamabad’s National Press Club (NPC), physically assaulting journalists and damaging media equipment.
Eyewitnesses and video footage reveal uniformed police wielding batons as they burst into the press club’s cafeteria, dragging individuals out and attacking those filming or attempting to intervene. Several photographers and staff members of the press club sustained injuries; some had their cameras or phones smashed or confiscated.
Journalist associations reacted strongly. The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) reported that club officials who had tried to quell the eruption were beaten, and two people were briefly detained. National press organizations condemned the raid as “terrorism” and warned that an attack on the NPC is an attack on media freedom across Pakistan. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) demanded swift investigations and accountability.
In response, the government ordered an inquiry. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi directed Islamabad’s Inspector General of Police to submit a report, stating that violence against journalists is unacceptable. Talal Chaudhry, Minister of State for Interior, offered a public apology, calling the incursion “unfortunate” and pledging disciplinary action against those responsible. Meanwhile, the Islamabad IGP assured that CCTV footage and other evidence would be reviewed to identify who authorized the police entry and use of force.
The authorities claim the raid was triggered after some protestors entered the press club grounds during demonstrations organized by the Jammu and Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC). However, journalists assert that they were targeted simply for recording or being present, not as participants in the protests.
The incident has stirred outrage across media circles in Pakistan, with calls for a unified response. The PFUJ announced a “black day” in protest, and numerous press clubs nationwide raised black flags in solidarity. Observers warn that once a press club is no longer safe, the entire environment for journalism becomes jeopardized.
Reference –
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2570218/police-storms-islamabad-press-club
