VIDEO: Senior Journalist Absar Alam attacked

Senior journalist and former chairman Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) Absar Alam has been shot in Islamabad, according to a tweet by journalist Gharidah Farooqi.

سابق چئیرمین پیمرا اور سینئر صحافی ابصار عالم پر قاتلانہ حملہ۔ ابصار عالم پر گولی انکے گھر کے باہر چلائی گئی جسوقت وہ گھر کے باہر واک کر رہے تھے۔ گولی ابصار عالم کے پیٹ میں لگی۔ اسوقت انکی حالت stable تو ہے مگر ہسپتال میں آپریٹ ہو رہا ہے۔ دعاؤں کی درخواست۔

— Gharidah Farooqi (T.I.) (@GFarooqi) April 20, 2021

Absar recorded a video on his way to the hospital after being shot. He says he was shot in the stomach and is heading to the hospital and he will not lose hope.

#BreakingNews: Senior journalist and ex chairman #PEMRA @AbsarAlamHaider shot outside his home. Strong condemnable and everybody praye for Absar Sahb. pic.twitter.com/iHcCEtZZhD

— Asad Ali Toor (@AsadAToor) April 20, 2021

Reports state he was walking in the F-11 park near his home. Doctors are operating on him and his condition is said to be stable.

PML-N’s Maryam Nawaz tweeted about the incident.

Silencing the voice of dissent is a cancer that has plagued this country for many years. Absar Alam Sahab is the latest victim of this cruel & barbaric crime. May Allah SWT heal his wounds and the wounds of this country. Ameen.

— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) April 20, 2021

PPP’s Sherry Rehman has also tweeted her support for the journalist.

Shocked to hear of this terrible attack! Must be credibly investigated. Praying for @AbsarAlamHaider’s speedy recovery. https://t.co/tDj70yIGRW

— SenatorSherryRehman (@sherryrehman) April 20, 2021

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry condemned the attack on Absar Alam. He tweeted that the police has been ordered to initiate an inquiry.

ابصار عالم پر قاتلانہ حملے کی شدید مذمت کرتے ہیں، پولیس کو واقعہ کی فوری تحقیقات کا کہ دیا ہے جوں ہی تفصیلات سامنے آئیں گی میڈیا کے سامنے رکھیں گے ،

— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) April 20, 2021

PML-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif also condemned the attack on Absar Alam.

The assassination attempt on Absar Alam, a leading voice for civil supremacy, raises a lot of questions. It is an attempt to silence a brave fighter by those who want to silence the voices of freedom and democracy. May Allah protect Absar Alam. Amen

— Nawaz Sharif (@NawazSharifMNS) April 20, 2021