GHAZNI CITY (Pajhwok): A Pajhwok Afghan News reporter has been beaten and robbed of his official equipment and personal belongings by unknown gunmen in southern Ghazni province.
Saifullah Maftoon, Pajhwok correspondent in Ghazni, said he was on his way home last night when intercepted by masked gunmen, who descended from a car.
One of the gunmen stopped him and another started hitting him in the face with fists before snatching his camera, laptop, two cell phones and money at gunpoint.
Maftoon said he had no personal dispute and had long been dwelling in Ghazni City.
Pajhwok Director Danish Karokhel strongly condemned the incident and demanded a serious probe.
“Over the past few months, the Ghazni governor has been in a dispute with local journalists and the gap between the two sides has increased. It is possible the governor’s house maybe involved in the attack on the reporter,” Karokhel said.
He hoped the governor’s house in Ghazni would enhance its cooperation with journalists.
Afghanistan National Union of Journalists head for Ghazni Asadullah Jalalzai also confirmed the attack on Maftoon, saying he was thrashed and deprived of equipment.
The union’s executive head in Kabul, Fahim Dashti, condemned the incident in a statement.
Meanwhile, the Centre of Afghan Journalists also condemned the attack on Pajhwok reporter, saying such attacks discouraged journalists to perform their official obligations.
The centre asked the government to investigate the incident and ensure journalists were protected in the line of duty.
The attack on Pajhwok reporter comes amid increasing incidents of violence against journalists in the country.
A few days ago, a journalist was gunned down by unknown assailants inside his home in northern Balkh province.
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