Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) in a letter to Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of Kazakhstan has expressed concern over the detention of Sania Toyken and Sanat Nurbekov, correspondent and cameraman of Radio Azattyk.

PPF Secretary General Owais Aslam Ali in his letter, has condemned the detention of journalists and termed it an attack on media freedom. PPF also urged the authorities to immediately release both Toyken and Nurbekov without any charges.

According to Adil Soz – International Foundation for Protection of Freedom of Speech, the journalists were for the coverage of situation in Zhanaozen from Aktau.

Toyken and Nurbekov were detained from the town square of Zhanaozen while covering the protests by residents demanding jobs for themselves.

The journalists were detained and were taken back to the Department of Internal Affairs in Aktau and they were informed that someone has complained to police.

A resident of Zhanaozen later informed the editorial office about the detention of journalists.