Balochistan Union of Journalists Strongly Condemns Harassment, Threats Against ARY News Cameraman Ameenullah Mengal and Female Reporter Atia Akram; Demands Immediate Arrest of Accused

QUETTA (Qudrat Daily) — Balochistan Union of Journalists (BUJ) President Manzoor Ahmed Rind, General Secretary Shah Hussain Tareen, and members of the cabinet and general council, in a joint statement, have expressed condemnation and concern over the incident involving ARY News female reporter Atia Akram and Ameenullah Mengal. The statement said that female reporter Atia Akram and her husband, cameraman Ameenullah Mengal, were on their way to the Press Club in their car when unidentified individuals at GPO Chowk in Quetta harassed the female reporter, threatened her husband, and when she tried to stop them, they beat up her husband, cameraman Ameenullah Mengal, punching him and saying that he should not be allowed to leave the house in the future. The statement said that police personnel were also present at the scene at the time, but despite this, the accused managed to escape.

The BUJ leadership demanded that the Inspector General of Police, Deputy Inspector General of Police Quetta, and other senior police officials take notice of the incident and immediately arrest the attackers. The BUJ statement said that BUJ stands with the affected ARY News female reporter and cameraman, and that harassment of a female journalist or any kind of misbehavior cannot be overlooked. An application has been submitted at the relevant police station for action in this regard, and a voice will be raised against the incident on every forum.