Journalists stage hunger strike in Islamabad over attack on Ahmad Noorani

ISLAMABAD: Journalists across the country continue to protest against the brutal attack on senior The News reporter Ahmad Noorani, with a hunger strike camp also set up in Islamabad. Noorani was critically injured after he came under attack by unidentified assailants on Friday while the journalist was on his way home in Islamabad from Rawalpindi. Journalist Ahmad Noorani attacked in Islamabad Six unidentified attackers beat up the senior journalist and his driver near Zero Point His car was stopped by three men travelling on a motorcycle near Zero Point Interchange. The attackers got down from their unmarked motorcycle after chasing down Noorani's car while three more of their accomplices, who were standing where the car was stopped with another unmarked motorcycle, joined in and severely beat up Noorani and his driver with iron rods after throwing out the keys from the ignition. Journalists and members of the civil society have been observing a hunger strike against the attack on senior reporter outside the Press Information Department. They demanded the authorities to arrest perpetrators of the attack and provide security to newsmen. The journalist remains in the intensive care unit (ICU) of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Islamabad. Army condemns attack on senior journalist Ahmad Noorani 'Attack on Noorani a malicious attempt to cause unrest' The incident prompted condemnations from noted political and social figures, and media representatives. DG Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asif Ghafoor also condemned the incident. He sent a bouquet to the injured journalist and prayed for his speedy recovery. Pakistan's permanent representative to the United Nations Maleeha Lodhi and Nobel laureate Malala Yousufzai were also among the ones who denounced the cowardly act.