Pakistan: KP govt to hold judicial probe into torture of journalists Monday, July 08, 2013 PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakh-tunkhwa government Sunday offered unconditional apology to journalists and announced judicial inquiry into the thrashing of media men by doctors at the Khyber Teaching Hospital. A government delegation led by provincial Minister for Public Health Shah Farman visited the Peshawar Press Club to express concern over the doctors’ high-handedness against journalists and sort out the misunderstanding between journalist community and the PTI-led provincial government. Later, health minister and spokesman for the provincial government Shaukat Yousafzai also joined the delegation comprising advisor to chief minister on minerals Ziaullah Afridi and Member Provincial Assembly Arif Yousaf and others. The delegation held detailed talks with the journalists’ action committee led by President Peshawar Press Club Nasir Hussain wherein all the demands of the protesting journalists were accepted. Consequently the ban on entry of Shaukat Yousafzai into the Peshawar Press Club was lifted. The government representatives said that they had come to the press club as a jirga and would accept whatever are the demands of the protesting journalists. The action committee comprising Peshawar Press Club vice-president Zulfiqar Ali Shah, general secretary Yousaf Ali, senior journalists Syed Bukhar Shah Bacha and Safiullah Gul and others informed the visiting delegation of the incident that happened at the KTH. Speaking on the occasion, Shaukat Yousafzai said a committee comprising high court judges would probe the incident and stern action would be taken against the doctors involved. He assured no hurdle to performance of the professional obligation of journalists would be tolerated. Shah Farman said some elements wanted to create a wedge between the government and the journalist community. He said every step would be taken to ensure protection to the working journalists. Nasir Hussain welcomed the steps announced by the delegation. He lauded some steps already taken by the provincial government for the wellbeing of the journalist community and expressed his optimism that protection of media personnel would be ensured. Yousaf Ali said a meeting of the Peshawar Press Club’s general body would be held at 11am today (Monday), wherein further line of action would be worked out.
Posted on: Mon, 08 Jul 2013 14:33:15 +0000