Interior Minister Orders Inquiry into National Press Club Incident

ISLAMABAD:Interior Minister **Mohsin Naqvi** has ordered an inquiry into the incident at the National Press Club, where journalists were reportedly subjected to police violence.

Naqvi stated that **violence against journalists will not be tolerated** under any circumstances and directed that all personnel involved be identified for disciplinary action. He has also sought a detailed report from the **IG Islamabad Police**.

Minister of State for Interior **Talal Chaudhry** said the government’s stance on freedom of expression is “absolutely clear” and stressed that the Islamabad Press Club incident was unrelated to any other issue. He added that the government has **offered an unconditional apology**, clarifying that protesters seeking to avoid arrest entered the press club, and police followed without assessing the situation.

Chaudhry assured that **action will follow after the inquiry**, and accountability will be made public. He also linked the broader unrest to the ongoing situation in Azad Kashmir, criticizing India’s media for “celebrating” the tensions, while reiterating that the Prime Minister has sent a senior multi-party delegation to resolve the issue peacefully.

The incident sparked outrage after police allegedly **stormed the National Press Club, assaulted journalists, damaged cameras, and vandalized the cafeteria**, where media personnel were beaten while having meals.