Eight journalists from Hafizabad have been granted interim bail until November 29 after they were booked by the Kassoki Police Station on November 20.
The incident occurred on November 20, when Member of National Assembly (MNA) Aneeqa Mehdi Bhatti, daughter of former MNA Mehdi Hassan Bhatti, was to host a press conference at her father’s residence. According to Dawn, the Hafizabad police reached the venue and “pushed the media persons out, refusing to allow them to attend the news conference.” A case was later registered against eight journalists.
According to the report, sources said they raided the venue on information that former MNA Shaukat Bhatti, a proclaimed offender, and other wanted individuals were present. Police alleged that the journalists, who included Amjad Parvez, Hafiz Azizur Rehman, Shahbaz Gul, Sheikh Javed, Asrar Shah, Javed Asad, Ehsanullah, and Shafaqat Wattoo, interfered with the operation and assisted in the escape of those sought by law enforcement.
The journalists denied the allegations. Following the registration of an FIR by Sub-Inspector Mushtaq Hussain, the journalists secured interim bail until November 29.
The Lahore Press Club and the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) condemned the charges as baseless and called for the immediate withdrawal of the cases.
