Press freedom came under direct attack in Pakistan when Islamabad Police stormed the National Press Club (NPC), a sanctuary for journalists, during a protest on a Friday. The police initially targeted Kashmiri journalists who were covering demonstrations organized by the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) against the Shehbaz Sharif government and alleged atrocities in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.

Videos shared on social media confirmed the violence, showing baton-wielding officers dragging and striking journalists inside the club’s premises, including reporters sitting in the cafeteria. The incident was condemned by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) as a direct assault on press freedom. Facing immediate backlash, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi ordered an inquiry and disciplinary action, calling the violence “unacceptable.” The raid is seen not merely as an isolated clash but as a grim reminder of the threats and fragility facing journalism in Pakistan.

What immediate and enforceable security protocols must Pakistan’s government adopt to ensure police do not violate the constitutional sanctity of press club premises?

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