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One dies as political activists attack TV channel office in Pakistan's Karachi

Xinhua, August 23, 2016 Adjust font size:

At least one person was killed and nine others were injured in the Pakistani port city of Karachi after activists attacked office of a TV channel, police said.

A police officer Qamar Asif said nearly 2000 activists of the Mutahida Qaumi Movement or MQM stormed the office of private ARY TV channel and nearby shops. The MQM complained that the TV channel is not giving proper coverage to its anti-gov't hunger strike.

TV footage showed the MQM angry workers entering the ARY office and destroying equipment and furniture in its office in central Karachi. The ARY Chief Executive Salman Iqbal said that the MQM workers fired inside its office located in Medina Shopping Mall.

Police said the MQM workers flared up after the party leader Altaf Hussain spoke to workers by the phone from London. Hussain lives in self-imposed exile in Britain.

The MQM is observing hunger strike against the arrest of its workers.

Another TV channels Samaa and Neo also said its office came under attack.

Firing was also reported in parts of the city and Semi Jamal, spokesperson of the city's Jinnah Hospital, confirmed that a bullet-riddled body of a man was brought to the hospital. Two policemen were among the injured.

Police said that several persons were arrested in connection with the firing that was widely condemned.

Murad Ali Shah, Chief Minister of Sindh, of which Karachi is the capital, visited office of the ARY. Head of the paramilitary forces also went to the ARY office and assured its workers that the culprits will not be spared.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has strongly condemned the attack on ARY, SAMAA and NEO offices in Karachi.

It is an attack on freedom of Press and expression, the Prime Minister said in a statement.

The Prime Minister directed the concerned authorities at the Federal and Provincial levels to bring the culprits to task on immediate basis.

The Prime Minister while directing the relevant authorities to ensure the safety and security of the civilians in general and journalists fraternity in particular also sought report on the incident from concerned quarters. Endit