Senators Demand Punjab Police Accountability After Alleged Assault on Journalist
Lawmakers from across the political spectrum have strongly condemned an alleged assault on a journalist by a Punjab police officer, calling it an attack on freedom of the press and a serious governance failure. During a tense session of the Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting, senators demanded immediate action against the police officials involved and criticized the Punjab government’s response.
The committee, led by Senator Syed Ali Zafar, focused on a recent incident in Rawalpindi where a journalist and union leader was reportedly assaulted and detained by a Station House Officer (SHO) for eight hours without formal charges. Senator Irfan-ul-Haque Siddiqui brought the issue to the committee, highlighting ongoing mistreatment of journalists in the province.
Supporting the complaint, Usman Khan, President of the Parliamentary Reporters Association, accused Punjab police of systematic abuse and claimed the provincial administration was protecting the accused officers. Khan dismissed attempts at reconciliation by local police officials as insufficient, arguing that they were intended to suppress public outcry rather than to address the underlying issues.
Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, who attended the meeting, apologized on behalf of both the federal and Punjab governments. He explained that he had spoken directly with senior police leaders but admitted those discussions had failed to yield results. Tarar suggested forming a sub-committee to investigate, but this was firmly rejected by the senators.
Committee members expressed their frustration at the absence of senior Punjab police representatives, warning against bureaucratic delays. Senators including Pervaiz Rashid insisted that the committee’s authority must be respected and that delaying justice under the pretext of procedure would not be tolerated.
In a unanimous decision, the committee demanded the immediate suspension of the accused SHO, a full inquiry into the incident, and the appearance of all relevant police officials—including the City Police Officer, Regional Police Officer, and the SHO—at the committee’s next session. The Information Minister has been tasked with relaying these instructions to the Punjab government and ensuring they are implemented.
