The International Federation of Journalists condemned the Pakistan police force for storming the private broadcaster, Geo TV, during public demonstrations in Islamabad earlier today.

According to reports several media employees were beaten as the police run amok destroying equipment and furniture and breaking windows.

“This is an outrageous attack on an independent broadcaster attempting to report events as they happen,” said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary.

The police occupied the TV station in the afternoon after it had provided full coverage of public protests being organised against the dismissal Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry of the head of Pakistan’s Supreme Court.

President Musharaf has since issued an apology live on Geo TV stating that the culprits should be identified and punished.

“While we welcome the swift apology from, this event should never have happened in the first place,” added White. “We hope that the President comes good on his promise to punish those responsible and to ensure that such intimidation never happens again.”

For more information contact the IFJ at               32 2 235 2207        
The IFJ represents over 500,000 journalists in more than 100 countries worldwide