Ghazni police beat, harass TV journalist

GHAZNI CITY (Pajhwok): A local television journalist was beaten and harassed by police in southern Ghazni province over violating the ban on pillion riding.

Mohammad Arif Noori, the provincial journalists’ union chief, told Pajhwok Afghan News TV journalist Aftab and his cameraman were on their way when police stopped them.

They first verbally clashed and police then started beating them, according to Noori, who condemned the incident and asked security officials to arrest the policemen responsible.

Pillion riding has been banned in Ghazni, but journalists are exempted from the ban.

Provincial deputy police chief, Col. Asadullah Shajaee, confirmed the incident and said the policemen involved had been arrested.

According to the provincial Journalists’ Safety Committee, 80 cases of violence against journalists have been recorded in Ghazni this ongoing solar. Security forces were responsible for 70 of the cases.

pk/ma