Media fraternity voices support for Journalist Asad Ali Toor over recent attack
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The famous Pakistani journalist, Asad Ali Toor, was beaten and threatened inside his Islamabad apartment in Sector F-10 by unknown assailants.
He told the police at least three unknown attackers carrying guns entered his apartment on Tuesday night.
The assailants reportedly tied him, strangled him, punched and kicked him, and left him injured.
Sources have revealed that Ali Toor has been receiving treatment at a local hospital and is in stable condition.
The Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Fawad Chaudhry, condemned the attack, saying authorities have been instructed to begin an immediate investigation.
Federal Minister for I&B @fawadchaudhry condemns the assault on journalist @AsadAToor. SSP Islamabad has been directed to probe the attack and bring the perpetrators to justice.
— Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (@MoIB_Official) May 25, 2021
Journalists and rights groups’ reaction on the attack:
Fellow journalists sternly condemned the attack on Toor and criticized the assault as an attack on the freedom of the press.
“Let this be a warning: you’re not safe if you dare to question the powerful,” said journalist Amber Rahim Shamsi in a tweet.
Friend and colleague @AsadAToor has been attacked at his home. Still unclear whether it was one or more ‘unknown people’. Badly injured. I had been dreading this day. Let this be a reminder: you are not safe if you dare to challenge the powerful.
— Amber Rahim Shamsi (@AmberRShamsi) May 25, 2021
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan also condemned the attack.
The NGO tweeted, “We see it as yet another attack on freedom of expression and a free press. HRCP demands that the authorities arrest and charge the assailants immediately.”
HRCP strongly condemns the brutal assault on journalist @AsadAToor by three unknown men who barged into his residence. We see it as yet another attack on freedom of expression and a free press. HRCP demands that the authorities apprehend and charge the assailants immediately.
— Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (@HRCP87) May 26, 2021
Journalist Owais Khalid Tweeted:
Journalist Asad Ali Toor Is beaten by”namaloom afrad” by breaking into his Islamabad residence on the day when our community thanked the govt. for a bill for journalists’ security. Highly condemnable.
— Owais Tohid (@OwaisTohid) May 25, 2021
Asad Ali Toor who has remained committed to his motto of “Asad Ali Toor Uncensored” is paying the cost of speaking truth to the power and fulfilling his journalistic responsibilities. The attackers should be held accountable. Violence can’t silence journalists. https://t.co/BETSZEKB5V
— Gulalai Ismail ګلالۍاسماعیل (@Gulalai_Ismail) May 25, 2021
The attack on Asad Ali Toor shows how precarious the situation is for people who speak up in this society. Prayers for Toor and a better Pakistan.
— Yasser Latif Hamdani (@theRealYLH) May 26, 2021
What are your views on this? Share with us in the comments below.
Gulalai ismail ???
Pakistan sey bhag ker galian deny waly journalists hein?? Sab log journalists hein who hate Pakistan!! Journalist/ human right activists, who are never seen breaking any news, doing any fruitful job for under privileged , are basically serving Foreign agenda are so much celebrated in our country and forums!!! Their tweets are quoted by politicians , even though they have zero credit in field!!