#Islamabad ,
#Pakistan was never so harsh a
#policestate even in Marshal Laws. Just a low ranking police personnel can tell journalists that they cannot perform duty in
#RedZone without his permission.
@MohsinnaqviC42 ,
@MOIOfficialPak ,
@MOIofficialGoP ,
@ICT_Police #IGP
Policeman, bearing name Zafar, stopped this journalist at Serena Hotel Police Cordon. Car was stopped, window pane lowered and hand put in pocket to show him ID Card - even telling him that the car was not entering Red Zone, rather going the opposite side. But he commanded to put off headlights, though the lights were already dim. "Why are you doing all this when I am telling you that I am not even entering Red Zone - though I can enter there for duty as I am a journalist?" "You can do your duty but only with my permission," the policeman said in a commanding tone. All this he did only to impress his accompanying FC (paramilitary) companion with his authority , NOT EVEN CHECKING ID.
After lengthy pleadings, he utters: "I am setting you free only because you have your family with you."
Note it Reporters Without Frontiers
@RSF_inter @RSF_en , Committee to Protect Journalists
@pressfreedom ! these are conditions for journalists to work even in
#Pakistani capital, let alone far-off places