PEMRA former chairman Absar Alam injured in gun attack
ISLAMABAD (92 News) - Veteran journalist and former Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) chairman Absar Alam was shot and injured in an gun attack in Islamabad on Tuesday.
According to police, the veteran journalist was attacked by an unidentified gunman when he was in F-11 Park for an evening walk. He received a bullet in his abdomen.
Alam has been shifted to the hospital for treatment. Doctors said the condition of Absar Alam is out of danger.
On the other hand, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has taken notice of the incident and ordered a probe in this regard.
Islamabad Inspector General (IGP) Qazi Jameel-ur-Rehman has constituted a special team headed by the Investigation SSP to investigate the attack on Alam.
The team has been directed to use all scientific and forensic methods to trace the attackers.
Pemra's chairman statement to police
In his statement to the police, the senior journalist said the man who shot him was likely 27 or 28 years old.
Alam said he was walking in a park near his house where the young man was also present. "The man was carrying a pistol and shot at me," he said.
The senior journalist said the suspect shot him on the right side of his stomach after which his friends took him to a hospital.
Incident condemned by govt, Opposition
Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry condemned the incident in a post on Twitter, adding that the police had been asked to investigate the attack. The minister said as soon as further details of the incident are available, he would share them with the media.
ابصار عالم پر قاتلانہ حملے کی شدید مذمت کرتے ہیں، پولیس کو واقعہ کی فوری تحقیقات کا کہ دیا ہے جوں ہی تفصیلات سامنے آئیں گی میڈیا کے سامنے رکھیں گے ،
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) April 20, 2021
PML-N Vice-President Maryam Nawaz, also condemning the incident, said silencing the voice of dissent is a cancer that has "plagued this country for many years".
"Absar Alam sahab is the latest victim of this cruel and barbaric crime. May Allah SWT heal his wounds and the wounds of this country," she added.
Silencing the voice of dissent is a cancer that has plagued this country for many years. Absar Alam Sahab is the latest victim of this cruel & barbaric crime. May Allah SWT heal his wounds and the wounds of this country. Ameen.
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) April 20, 2021
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari deplored the incident and demanded that the people involved in the incident be arrested.
"An inquiry should be launched into the incident," Bilawal said as he prayed for the early recovery of the journalist.
Jamaat-e-Islami chief Siraj-ul-Haq said he was saddened to hear of the incident and strongly condemns it. He said it is worrying to see such a state of affairs in the capital.
ابصار عالم پر قاتلانہ حملے کا سن کر انتہائی افسوس ہوا۔ شدید مذمت کرتے ہیں۔ وفاقی دارالحکومت میں امن و امان کی یہ صورتحال تشویشناک ہے۔ واقعہ کی فوری تحقیق کرکے ذمہ داران کو قانون کے کٹہرے میں لایا جائے۔
— Siraj ul Haq (@SirajOfficial) April 20, 2021
Other notable figures, such as PPP's Farhatullah Babar, also condemned the incident in strong terms.
Strongly condemn murderous attack on @AbsarAlamHaider. Have no doubt that in the fullness of time the perpetrators will be exposed, punished. Praying for early recovery of Absar Alam https://t.co/3mfgfW2SiT
— Farhatullah Babar (@FarhatullahB) April 20, 2021
Strongly Condemn the attack on absar alam.
— Syed Ali Musa Gillani (@SyedMusaGillani) April 20, 2021
Strongly condemn the attack on Absar Alam sb. May the Almighty protect everyone
— Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui (@murtazawahab1) April 20, 2021
HRCP strongly condemns the assassination attempt on leading journalist and former chairmain of PEMRA. HRCP sees such cowardly acts of violence against journalists as an assault on an already muzzled media.
HRCP strongly condemns the assassination attempt on leading journalist and former chair of PEMRA, @AbsarAlamHaider. HRCP sees such cowardly acts of violence against journalists as an assault on an already muzzled media. #JournalismIsNotACrime pic.twitter.com/dR2cLhgvsN
— Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (@HRCP87) April 20, 2021
