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Javed Jabbar

condemns attack

on newsman

ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the chief executive on National Affairs, Information and Media Development, Javed Jabbar has condemned the abhorrent incident of attacking Hafiz Tahir Khalil and said the government would bring to book those responsible for this act.

Javed Jabbar, who visited Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) on Saturday evening, to inquire about the health of the senior reporter, Daily Jang, Hafiz Tahir Khalil, said the "government condemns this incident in the strongest possible terms".

Hafiz Tahir sustained bullet injuries on Friday night when some unidentified assailants opened fire on him in front of his residence after calling him out.

The adviser sympathised with the injured and assured him of all possible help by the government.

He termed this act of intimidating journalists, abominable and said "It is an assault on the freedom of press and the government will deal with those responsible, with an iron hand".

As inquiries into the incident were already underway, he said "We will do the utmost to trace the culprits and bring them to book".

However, he expressed the hope that the assailants would be arrested in the shortest possible time.

Jabbar said the government had the highest regard for freedom of the press and committed to ensure security of professional journalists.

He also sympathised with the family members of the senior journalist ensuring them all out cooperation and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.

The adviser said the Ministry of Information, as a goodwill gesture, would bear all expenses to be incurred on Hafiz Tahir Khalil's treatment.

He also directed PIMS authorities to treat the patient, by putting in their best efforts.

Hafiz Tahir and his family members briefed the adviser about the incident saying the reasons for the assault were not yet known as the injured has no personal enmity with anyone.

They quoted the culprits as saying that they had been sent by the former MNA Syed Zafar Ali Shah, a charge that has already been denied by the member of the suspended National Assembly, Zafar Ali Shah.ÑAPP