FAISALABAD: Unidentified attackers hurled a hand grenade on the Faisalabad Bureau office of a local television channel Dunya News on Friday evening, injuring three people.According to Dunya News, the grenade attack outside their Faisalabad bureau left three of the channel's employees injured while windows and vehicles outside the office were damaged.
The attackers also threw pamphlets containing threats from 'Daulat-i-Islamia Khorasan' (Islamic State- Khorasan group).
"Islamic State of Khorasan claim responsibility for this attack, we will continue to attack deviant rulers, their forces and their abettors (the media). People belonging to the Ahl-e-Sunnat sect shall stay away from these targets," read the pamphlet reportedly thrown at the crime scene.
The attackers arrived on a motorcycle outside the Dunya News office and hurled a hand grenade at the office before fleeing from the spot, CCTV footage aired on the media channel showed.
Condemnations and protests
Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists’ (PFUJ) President Rana Azeem while condemning the attack announced that the journalist community across the country will protest against this ghastly act.
According to Dunya News, Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif took notice of the incident and has demanded an inquiry report from the relevant authorities.
Shahbaz Sharif ordered the Regional Police Officer (RPO) to arrest the culprits within 24 hours. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also condemned the attack and ordered the immediate arrest of culprits.
Journalists from various media groups staged protests in different cities of Punjab, including Lahore, Multan and Sahiwal terming the incident, an attack on media freedom.
The journalist community demanded from the government to immediately bring the culprits to justice.