Journalists protest in Pakistan against Imran Khan's cops' brutality

Pakistani journalists on October 16 held a nationwide protest against police brutality in the city of Lahore. The protests have come in the wake of police officials assaulting Pakistani journalist Usman Ahmed Bhatti for covering the appearance of an opposition leader in a court in Lahore. Earlier this year, a media rights watchdog condemned the suspension of 3 Pakistani television news channels for airing an opposition leader's press conference a day prior.

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Details of protest

The protests have come in the wake of police officials it Pakistani journalist  Usman Ahmed Bhatti for covering the appearance of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz PML(N) leader Hamza Shaba in court. It has been widely reported that other journalists were beaten to make way for the convoy of the PML(N) leader with even camerapersons not spared from the assault. Punjab police did not make any comment over accusations of brutality levelled by protesting journalists. 

Journalists had earlier come together and protested in front of court demanding justice against police brutality. 

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Media freedom and Pakistan

Earlier this year, a media rights watchdog condemned the suspension of 3 Pakistani television news channels for airing an opposition leader's press conference and called it brazen censorship calling the move a dictatorial tendency. News television channels  Channel 24, Abbtak News, and Capital TV were taken off the air. Head of Reporters Without Border's then said that it is an absolutely unacceptable violation of principles of media pluralism and independence during a revelation that was clearly in Pakistani public's interest. 

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(With inputs from ANI)