AFP photographer shot at Pakistan anti-Charlie Hebdo protest

Asif Hassan, a 38-year-old photojournalist working for the Agence France Presse (AFP), was shot during an anti-Charlie Hebdo protest by the student wing of religious party Jammat-e-Islami in front of the French Consulate’s office in Karachi (Pakistan) on Friday, January 16.

According to reports, the crowd was demonstrating against the French magazine Charlie Hebdo’s depiction of the prophet Mohammed, opened fire at police as the security forces blocked the road. Hassan was rushed to the Aga Khan University Hospital where he is reported to be in a stable condition. A local TV cameraman also sustained minor injuries during the protest.

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) strongly condemns the attack.

The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) demanded the culprits behind the incident be brought to justice. "We call on authorities to quickly and thoroughly investigate the shooting of Agence France-Presse photographer Asif Hassan and to hold the perpetrators to account," said CPJ's Asia program coordinator Bob Dietz.

Pakistan is ranked 158th of 180 countries in the Reporters Without Borders world press freedom index for 2014. From 2009 to 2011, the country was the deadliest one for journalists. Over the past three years, at least 18 journalists have been killed in the country.

 
Photo: http://www.ifj.org