NPC Submits Charter of Demands to Interior Ministry

ISLAMABAD: The National Press Club’s (NPC) Joint Action Committee on Tuesday handed over a charter of demands to the Ministry of Interior, following last week’s police raid, violence against journalists, and vandalism at the NPC premises in Islamabad.

The incident occurred when Islamabad police stormed the NPC during a protest organised by the Awami Action Committee last Thursday. Journalists who began documenting the raid were allegedly manhandled, while police personnel snatched their cameras and mobile phones.

According to an NPC statement, the charter of demands urges the government to ensure the security of press clubs nationwide in light of the incident.

Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry confirmed receipt of the demands and assured that the government would approve them. He said the government would ensure that police officers must obtain administrative permission before entering any press club premises.

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Chaudhry reiterated the government’s condemnation and apology for the attack, adding that the prime minister, interior minister, and information minister had expressed deep concern and ordered a full investigation.

The charter demands that those responsible be identified and held accountable through strict legal action. It also calls for the immediate formation of a high-level inquiry committee comprising representatives from the Interior Ministry, Information Ministry, and journalists nominated by the NPC.

The proposed committee will also assess damages suffered by reporters, video journalists, and photographers during the violence. The NPC has demanded that the interior ministry issue a notification for the committee’s formation within 24 hours, and that the probe report be completed within four days.

The assault on the NPC has drawn widespread condemnation from journalist organisations, which termed it an attack on press freedom and part of a broader campaign against media workers.

Following the outrage, Chaudhry reiterated his apology and pledged that the government would implement the journalists’ demands in full.