September 9, 2025
by Rana Malhi
ISLAMABAD:
A strong protest demonstration was held outside the National Press Club on Tuesday , organized by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists, against the assault on journalist Tayyab Baloch.
Journalists from Islamabad and Rawalpindi, along with lawyers and civil society representatives, participated in the protest and strongly condemned the incident.
The protest began after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers attacked journalist Tayyab Baloch outside Adiala Jail a day earlier. During the assault, not only was he beaten, but other journalists were also subjected to harassment and pushing. The incident sparked concern across journalistic circles, prompting the Federal Union of Journalists to call for the demonstration.
PFUJ President Afzal Butt, National Press Club Islamabad President Azhar Jatoi, senior journalist Tariq Chaudhry, and others addressed the protest. The speakers said that attacks on journalism were increasing by the day and that both the government and political parties seemed to be failing to take protection of journalists as a serious issue
In his speech, Afzal Butt said political parties served as role models for their workers.
If these parties themselves embraced violence and intolerance, their workers would also inevitably follow the same path. He added that the PTI workers’ attack on Tayyab Baloch proves that political parties have failed to instill a culture of tolerance and dialogue among their supporters.
Butt demanded that PTI immediately apologize for the attack on the journalist and warned that if they failed to do so, the protest movement would expand further.
National Press Club President Azhar Jatoi said attacks on journalism in the country are rising to dangerous levels and the government needs to take this trend seriously. According to him, violence against journalists is not only an attack on the media but also on the public’s right to know. He urged the government to immediately take steps to ensure the safety of journalists and to prevent such incidents in the future.
Senior journalist Tariq Chaudhry said that before being physically attacked, Tayyab Baloch had been subjected to harassment on social media. According to him, this incident shows that when political parties encourage or silently endorse such behavior by their workers, violent incidents against journalists inevitably follow. He stressed that these tactics to pressure the press are a direct threat to freedom of expression.
Journalists and lawyers at the demonstration said attacks on journalism are, in fact, attacks on democracy and the public interest. If journalists are punished for reporting news or asking questions, it directly undermines the people’s right to information. They demanded immediate legal action against those responsible for the assault and said they must be brought before the law to prevent such incidents in the future.
In its statement, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists held Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf responsible for the assault on journalist Tayyab Baloch. It said PTI leadership must not only apologize but also guarantee that their workers will not be involved in violence against journalists in the future. The union warned that if PTI failed to accept responsibility, a new wave of nationwide protests would be launched.
The participating journalists vowed that they would remain united on every front to defend press freedom and would not bow to any pressure or violence. They said journalism is the foundation of democracy and that attacks on it will never be tolerated.