Islamabad: Minister of State for Interior, Talal Chaudhry, has expressed regret over the recent incident at the National Press Club in Islamabad, calling it unacceptable and deeply unfortunate. He emphasized that freedom of the press is a core priority for the government, and any form of aggression towards journalists cannot be tolerated.
Speaking to the media, Talal Chaudhry clarified that during a protest, a group of demonstrators became involved in a confrontation with police officers, and in the chaos, a few of them ran into the Press Club premises. He admitted that the police should not have followed them inside and described the action as a result of misjudgment.
“The police had no right to enter the Press Club, and I sincerely apologize to the journalists affected by this episode,” he stated, adding that there was no intention by the authorities to target media personnel.
Taking swift action, the Minister ordered the Inspector General of Islamabad Police to initiate a strict inquiry and take disciplinary measures against the officers involved. He reassured the media community that such incidents will not be repeated.
“As a political worker, I strongly condemn what happened,” Talal Chaudhry said. “We are taking concrete steps to ensure the safety and independence of journalists.”
