Police, journalists clash in Islamabad, CJP takes notice

Cheif Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Saqib Nisar has taken a suo motu notice of the clash between Islamabad police and journalists at World Press Freedom Day rally.

The journalists belonging to local and foreign media outlets were participating in a rally to mark the World Press Freedom Day. 

The participants of the rally were marching towards the Parliament. At D Chowk, police barred them from moving any further which led to the clash. Later on, the deputy commissioner of the federal capital arrived at the occasion and took the rally to the Parliament under his supervision.

The participants of the rally included journalists from various news organizations, including foreign news agencies and Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists.

The journalists alleged that police “did not even spare female journalists and resorted to violence against them”.

Taking notice of the incident, the Chief Justice of Pakistan summoned report from the town administration.


World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in December 1993, following the recommendations of UNESCO’s General Conference. Since then, 3 May, the anniversary of the Declaration of Windhoek is celebrated worldwide as World Press Freedom Day.