IFJ Condemns Abduction of Senior Union Official in Pakistan

Media Release: Pakistan

March 22, 2011

IFJ Condemns Abduction of Senior Union Official in Pakistan

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) in condemning the abduction and mistreatment of Mohammad Rafique Baloch, a senior journalist and vice-president of the Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ).

According to PFUJ reports, Baloch was on his way to the Sindh High Court, in Karachi on March 21 to attend a hearing of the case filed before the bench on the implementation of the Seventh Wage Award for journalists, when he was intercepted, bundled into a vehicle and taken to an unknown location.

Baloch was verbally abused and severely manhandled by his unidentified abductors. He was held for close to four hours before being released in a remote part of Karachi at 1pm.

“The IFJ is deeply disturbed by this blatant intimidation of a senior journalist and trade unionist in Pakistan,” IFJ Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park said.

“We join the PFUJ in demanding a quick and credible investigation into this incident and the imposition of the severest punishment available under the law for those who carried out the abduction”.

For further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +612 9333 0919