February 02, 2022: Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has strongly condemned the arrest of two independent journalists Waris Hasrat and Aslam Hijab in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan, reportedly by some members of Taliban.
The reports reaching here Monday suggest that some men identified themselves as members of the Taliban arrested Aslam Hijab, a reporter, and Waris Hasrat, a political presenter, associated with the independent broadcaster, Ariana News TV, at the entrance of media outlet’s headquarters in Kabul.
In a joint statement on Wednesday, President of PFUJ Shahzada Zulfiqar and Secretary General Nasir Zaidi called for immediate release of the journalists and urged the United Nations and the international agencies working in Afghanistan to intervene for the release of the journalists and ensure safety and security of media community in Afghanistan. “The situation demands immediate action by the international community to protect the journalists in Afghanistan,” they urged.
PFUJ leadership said, “we standby with the independent journalists of Afghanistan and will keep raising our voice for them, whenever it is needed.”
They said human lives are already under serious threat in Afghanistan due to extreme weather and food supply situation while Kabul needs support from the entire world community, however, the question will remain who will “come forward in such a situation.”
