The Bajaur Press Club, in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province that borders Afghanistan, was closed on November 13, for an unspecified period on the orders of senior officers of the local administration due to the fear of terrorist attack.
Talking to Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF), Hasbanullah Khan, President of the Bajaur Press Club said the senior officials informed the press club of the threat, that led to members of the press club deciding to shut down the press club.
For security reasons, paramilitary Levies officers were positioned in the premises of press club. The Levies officers’ also evacuated vehicles from a nearby bus stand.
Khan said Assistant Commissioner Arif Khan Yusufzai informed them about the threats. He added before this incident they also received threats from militants to kill journalists and attack press club.
Ayub Jan Sirhandi, Secretary General of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) condemned the threats that had led to the closure of Bajaur Press Club. He demanded security for the press club and all its members.
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