Pakistani police attack media
From CNN Producer Syed Mohsin Naqvi
LAHORE, Pakistan (CNN) -- Baton-wielding police attacked journalists Tuesday in several Pakistan cities as they tried to celebrate World Press Freedom Day, and arrested 37 of them during a rally outside parliament in Islamabad.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz ordered the journalists released, and a police source told CNN they were freed Tuesday night.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said in a written statement that the house speaker ordered a National Assembly committee to investigate the violence and report its findings to Parliament within 30 days.
Journalists, shouting anti-government slogans, demanded that the government take action against police officials.
As police tried to block journalists in Islamabad from approaching the government building, officers seized and smashed cameras and cell phones and injured several reporters, witnesses told CNN.
Police accused the journalists of violating security regulations when they tried to march to the prime minister's home.
Among those arrested were Pervez Shaukat, president of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, and Kamal Azfar, president of the Islamabad Union of Journalists.
Azfar said journalists were continuously targeted for abuse in Pakistan.
Ahmed said the journalists detained by police were released immediately, although CNN was told that some were not released until Tuesday night.
Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly, the lower house, Ahmed said that as soon as he learned about the violence, he informed the prime minister, who ordered the journalists freed.
Ahmed denied that his ministry was behind the attacks.
"We believe in freedom of the press, which is the pillar of the democracy, and hold the journalists in high esteem," Ahmed said.
Some opposition members of Parliament left the building to condemn the incident and express solidarity with the journalists. Pakistan's ruling party President, Chaudary Shaujaat Hussain, apologized for the police actions.
In Lahore, police assaulted journalists at a rally outside the Lahore Press Club, taking actions similar to those in Islamabad. Nine journalists were detained for several hours.
Press Club President Arshad Ansar condemned the violence and demanded that the government take action against police officials.
A peaceful rally by journalists in Karachi turned into a protest after they heard of the violence in Islamabad and Lahore.
Journalists told CNN they shouted anti-government slogans and also demanded a government inquiry.
In Washington, U.S. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher applauded journalists for their courage on World Press Freedom Day.
"Events during the last year again demonstrated the crucial role the press plays to advance the struggle for freedom," Boucher said in a written statement.
"Journalism is often a dangerous profession. Today, we take this opportunity to express solidarity with the brave journalists who risk their lives to inform the public and express their views."
According to the International Federation of Journalists, 129 journalists were killed in 2004, mostly in Iraq, where 19 reporters and other media personnel died.
That compares with 93 deaths in 2003, showing "journalists were increasingly being considered as legitimate targets as they reported on war zones and investigated corruption," the group says on their Web site.
The IFJ's mission is to urge governments to promote social justice and rights for journalists.
