Pak journo attacked after criticising military. 'Worst form of fascism' - Imran Khan | World News

A senior Pakistan journalist was reportedly assaulted by unidentified males in Lahore on Friday evening whereas he was returning residence. The assault on Ayaz Amir, 73, in accordance with native experiences, got here a day after he referred to as Pakistan's Military generals "property sellers".

The journalist mentioned he had been returning residence from work when his automotive was intercepted by unidentified males, who dragged him out of the automotive and beat him. Amir had been getting back from his workplace after recording his tv present for Pakistan-based Television channel Dunya News when the incident occurred.

Amir, chatting with native media, mentioned the boys whose faces had been lined with masks not solely hit him and tore his garments. In addition they took away his cellphone and pockets and left the scene when individuals began gathering on the busy highway.

Former Pak prime minister Imran Khan condemned the incident. In a tweet, he wrote: "I condemn in strongest phrases the violence towards senior journalist Ayaz Amir as we speak in Lahore. Pakistan descending into the worst form of fascism with violence and faux FIRs towards journalists, opposition politicians, and residents. When the state loses all ethical authority it resorts to violence."

Journalists, lawyer our bodies, and rights activists condemned the assault.

"Supreme Courtroom of Pakistan must take suo moto (cognizance) of this terrorism towards one of the revered, non-controversial media figures. Ayyaz Amir is round 73 years of age! Some of the revered English columnists Pakistan has ever created! HRCP and Daybreak and civil society should stand," senior journalist Moeed Peerzada tweeted.

The assault on the journalist is claimed to have adopted his speech at a seminar in Islamabad on the 'Regime Change and its Fallout on Pakistan' on Thursday. Throughout his speech, Amir focused the navy institution for its function in Pakistan's politics and in addition referred to the Military generals as "property sellers". He had reportedly additionally recommended eradicating the portraits of Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Iqbal and changing them with the "property sellers".Imran Khan was additionally among the many attendees of the seminar.

Amir – whose speech had gone viral on social media – had additionally made a veiled dig at Pakistan Military chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, saying he was into his sixth 12 months of tenure and on the lookout for one other extension. Amongst different issues, he additionally identified the errors of the earlier authorities led by Imran Khan which collapsed in April after dropping the belief vote.

Punjab chief minister Hamza Shehbaz has sought a report on the assault of the senior journalist and ordered that the culprits be arrested on the earliest.