Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi reached the National Press Club in Islamabad to show solidarity after the Islamabad Police entered the club, allegedly using force against journalists and damaging equipment. The governor strongly denounced the conduct and demanded immediate remedial measures for the losses caused by the incident.
Faisal Karim Kundi said the National Press Club is not only a workplace for reporters and camera crews but also a second home for politicians, and that the alleged Press Club assault is a regrettable episode in the country’s history. He called for the highest level of accountability, urging both strict departmental action and the formation of a judicial commission to ensure exemplary punishment for those responsible.
The governor insisted that those who violated the sanctity of the press club must face severe consequences and that damaged cameras, mobile phones and other equipment be compensated. He also said he would discuss the journalists’ charter of demands with Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and stressed that suspensions and inquiries should be followed by meaningful punishments where warranted.
Leaders of the journalist community joined the governor on his visit. Afzal Butt, President of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, described the police action as unprecedented and said press clubs are normally respected worldwide, including during past emergency periods. He reported that cameras were snatched and broken, and announced a joint action committee formed from all press club groups to decide next steps after a formal apology from the state representative.
On arrival, the governor was warmly received by National Press Club president Azhar Jatoi, secretary Niyer Ali, vice president Syed Zafar Hashmi, governing body members Aamir Rafiq Butt and Jafar Ali Balti, RIUJ senior vice president Raja Bashir Usmani and former NPC president Tariq Chaudhry. Participants emphasized that the journalist community regards the press club as a fortress for free speech and condemned any attack on its dignity.
The delegation also noted the broader public interest, with the governor reiterating that natural resources including minerals, water and electricity belong to the state and must be managed responsibly. The press community has asked for guarantees and practical measures to prevent police entry into press clubs nationwide and to restore trust between law enforcement and media professionals.
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