Pakistani journalist Taha Siddiqui escapes kidnap attempt
Pakistani journalist Taha Siddiqui managed to evade an abduction attempt in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, by armed men in two cars, who intercepted him as he was on his way to airport in the morning on January 10.
According to Siddiqui who reports for France 24, New York Times, The Guardian and other international publications, armed men stopped and pulled him out from the taxi, started beating him and warned they would shoot him if he resisted.
Siddiqui said he is working with Hollywood filmmaker Michael Winters, who made a film on the kidnapping and murder of an American journalist Daniel Pearl. Siddiqui further added the purpose to travel to London, United Kingdom is to deliver some scenes for the movie.
In a press conference Siddiqui said he had been receiving threats regarding his journalistic work and social media activity.
In May 2017, Siddiqui had filed petition in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for harassing him over the phone.
A criminal complaint has been launched in Koral Police station and he was examined medically at the Pakistan Institute Medical Sciences (PIMS) hospital in Islamabad.
Pakistan Federal Union of Journalist condemned this act and vowed the freedom of the press could not be suppressed through such actions.
In a statement of Rawalpindi Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) expressed serious concerns over the attempted kidnapping. RIUJ statement said they were in contact with senior police officers for probing the issue and extending security to the journalist.
Source: Reports