Press Release
The Digital Media Alliance of Pakistan (DigiMAP) strongly condemns the murderous attempt by unidentified armed persons against CEO Ibex Media Network (IMN) Aly Mujeeb late on Friday.
DigiMAP also condemns the criminal apathy of the Gilgit-Baltistan government and demands measures to ensure immediate arrest of persons involved in the incident.
While condemning the kidnapping attempt, DigiMAP President Sabookh Syed demanded of the GB government to end this policy of criminal silence in violence against journalists in GB.
The DigiMAP president said it is not a new practice to silence critical voices in Pakistan as many other digital media journalists have survived such attempts.
Sabookh Syed also voiced concern over the criminal apathy adopted by the government and other high ups in GB.
He also voiced concern over the silence of journalists unions across Pakistan, adding that the safety and security of digital media journalists is at risk in Pakistan due to apathy of journalists unions in Pakistan.
According to details, armed men attempted to abduct CEO Ibex Media Network (IMN) Aly Mujeeb late on Friday in Gilgit.
The incident occurred at about 10.45pm in the parking area of IMN office at Zulfiqar Abad Jutial, Gilgit.
“I was about to get into my car when three armed men showed up in the parking area,” said Mujeeeb, adding one of the armed man ‘put me at gunpoint ordering me to keep quiet or else he would shoot me.”
In the meanwhile another man tried to enter the car from the other door. However a scuffle between the perpetrator and CEO IMN resulted in accidental fire which prevented the second man from entering the car.
In the meanwhile Mujeeb said he was able to snatch the pistol from the person aiming at him.
“On being disarmed, the perpetrators ran away by a motorbike they had appeared to have parked on the roadside,” he added.
Senior journalist and Chief Editor IMN Shabbir Mir said the incident was horrific as it involved attempted kidnapping. “It was first of its kind in Gilgit-Baltistan,” said Mir about the incident.
The chief editor said he was shocked over the government’s indifferent attitude towards the heinous incident.
“After three days, there isn’t any official statement from the government condemning the incident,” said Mir, adding neither the CM Khalid Kurshid nor did the minister of Information take any notice of the incident.
The incident has raised serious questions over the safety of media men working in difficult circumstances.
It is to mention here that IBX media is an online media platform working on public interest journalism and raises voices for the voiceless people of the region and due to its critical journalism, the media platform its team often faces criticism in the government circles.
