Case Update Status

No action had been taken

Summary of Case

On May 7, a group of protestors attempted to breach the Chaman Press Club, issuing threats of burning press club to the journalists within. The press club was locked up, with a chilling warning that any future use would result in its destruction. No FIR was registered in this case as due to threats the journalists had not approached the police. Chaman Press Club President Hidayat Arman told PPF that there have been protests going on for four to six months at the Chaman border as thousands of people have been sitting and protesting over the issue of the government introducing the passport policy to come and go to Afghanistan from the Chaman border. The reason is that we don't get coverage from the media, so we don't need a press club."" Baluchistan Union of Journalists President Khalil Ahmed told PPF that the protestors who are sitting at the Chaman border over the passport policy rushed the press club and threatened to burn the press club and lock it up in the presence of police force. They told the press club members that we don't get media coverage and press club is for the public, if it is not covering us then we don't need it. If they use it again, they will burn it."" Abdul Basit Achakzai, journalist from Chaman, said that the protestors rushed to the press club and threatened the journalists to lock up the gate or they would burn the press club as they were not providing media coverage to them. Basit further shared with PPF that all of this happened in the presence of the police, and they could not go to the press club for three days. Achakzai mentioned that the protestors were sitting for 4 to 6 months, and the media covered them at the start, but the media can't provide coverage to them on a daily basis, and Baluchistan also doesn’t get much concentration from the media. SHO Abdullah from Chaman Police Station told PPF that he was present there and stopped the protestors from entering the press club, and they demanded media coverage and locked up the press club. He told PPF that an FIR would be filed until the order came from the home department. The Baluchistan Union of Journalists (BUJ) on May 8 condemned the locking down of Chaman Press Club and the incident of harassment against journalists by daily wagers. The president of BUJ Khalil Ahmed demanded that Chief Minister Baluchistan Mir Sarfaraz Bugti and IG Police take immediate actions against the elements involved in this incident. He said protecting the journalists is the duty of the state, hence the government of Baluchistan should take measures in this regard to protect the journalists of Chaman.

Category of Incident

Attack on property

ICCS Status

ICCS Divisions: 0201-Assaults and threats

ICCS Group: 02011 Assault

ICCS Class: 020112 Minor assault

ICCS Crime: Assault

Reported By

Unknown

Date of incident

7

Month

May

Year

2024

Name of affected person

Members of Chaman Press Club

Other affected persons

No

Name of affected organization

Chaman Press Club

Other affected organizations

No

Action by

Protestors

City

Chaman

Province

Baluchistan

Designation

N/A

Professional category

N/A

Age of victim

N/A

Marital Status

Compensation Details

Amount of compensation announced by government: No compensation was announced

Date of compensation announcement by government: No compensation was announced

Date of compensation paid by government: No compensation was announced

Amount of compensation announced by others: No compensation was announced

Date of compensation announced by others: No compensation was announced

Date compensation paid by others: No compensation was announced

FIR Details

Was FIR registered ?: No

Court Details

Was case investigated ?: No

Court where case was presented: Case was not presented in any court

Name of prosecuting lawyer: Case was not presented in any court

Date of first court hearing:

Date of last court hearing:

Status of court case: Case was not presented in any court

Journalist Union Status

PFUJ

Not condemned

APNS

Not condemned

CPNE

Not condemned

PBA

Not condemned

Media Source Status

Media reports:

Condemn Status

Colleague of victim

No version was needed

Employer organization

N/A

Press Club Status

Press club 1: Chaman Press Club President Hidayat Arman told PPF that the procession observed at the Chaman border was over the passport policy. The protestors rushed the press club and threatened to burn the press club and lock it up in the presence of police force. They told the press club members that we don't get media coverage and if any body intervene, they will burn the club.

Press club 2: The Baluchistan Union of Journalists (BUJ) on May 8 condemned the locking down of Chaman Press Club and the incident of harassment against journalists by daily wagers. The president of BUJ Khalil Ahmed demanded that Chief Minister Baluchistan Mir Sarfaraz Bugti and IG Police to take immediate actions against the elements involved in this incident. He said protecting the journalists is the duty of the state, hence the government of Baluchistan should take measures in this regard to protect the journalists of Chaman.

Press club 3: -