Protests after Pakistan establishment raids and wrecks Karachi Press Club, harasses journalists

Protests have broken out, online and offline, over the Pakistani establishment staining the sanctity of press independence, following armed police in plain clothes raiding the Karachi Press Club in Pakistan on November 8 at around 10:30 pm. 

The institution that has boasted of secured freedom was wrecked with dozens of armed policemen storming inside all rooms including the kitchen and sports room. The statement issued by the Karachi Press Club signified that the raiders harassed the journalists and officials at the club, forcibly shot videos and took photos without permission in their phones.

Some concerned journalists and the Press Club members inquired the cause of the raid but did not receive reasonable or clear responses. 

The men came in with around six double-cabin vehicles, land cruisers, Prado and other vehicles along with police trucks. 

The Karachi Press Club’s President, Ahmed Khan Malik, and secretary Maqsood Yusufi called this act as a desecration urging the Governor and Chief Minister of Sindh to call for an inquiry and probe against “intruders.” Protests had been carried out around the country condemning the act. 

A journalist claimed that raid was in an attempt to relieve whatever resistance remaining with the journalists.  

The reformist Karachi Press Club has often been the face of freedom that stood up for protests the government, rallying for civil and human rights and to condemn the freedom violations in the country. This incident by the Pakistani officials exhibited an attempt to overpower this very virtue of the institution, taking a jibe at the autonomy of press. 

Most of the first generation journalists of this club, when established in 1950 were inclined to the leftist political spectrum and stood against blending of religion with politics.

Currently, Pakistan stands on the 139th rank in RSF’s 2018 World Press Freedom Index.