Geo News team attacked in London by Afghan Watan Group protesters outside Pakistani High Commission
Geo News team attacked in London by Afghan Watan Group protesters outside Pakistani High Commission
By;ASGHAR ALI MUBARAK;
A group of Afghan nationals led by Watan Group organizers of the protest outside Pakistan High Commission included Noor Ullah, Dr Qasim Ibrahim, Bacha Khan, Shah Mehmood Khan, Atal Kawan, Sadaat Khan, Falik Nayaz Khan and others organized a protest outside Pakistan High Commission London on other day afternoon which turned violent when a Geo News reporting team was attacked by some of the demonstrators. “The Watan Group” had organized the protest to seek justice for the daughter of the Afghan ambassador to Pakistan who was allegedly kidnapped in Islamabad two weeks ago. The UK government was reminded that during a protest in 2019 by an ethnic group, the Pakistan High Commission’s building was vandalized but no action was taken against the culprits. Around 50 protestors took part and raised slogans against Pakistan. There were three incidents of violence. At the start, a protestor punched this reporter and hit his phone while filming the protest. Immediately after that, this reporter called the police and informed them of the attack. The police arrived after over 40 minutes. Just before the police arrived, around five protestors marched across the road where Pakistani media was present and one of the protestors punched Geo correspondent, seriously injuring and fracturing his thumb and making the phone fall on the ground. Minutes later, a Pakistani student, Ehtesham Hasan, 20, who argued with the protestors peacefully, was cornered in Knightsbridge. Geo News cameraman Naseer Ahmed, who was filming the incident, was also attacked by three protestors who broke Geo’s logo and mic and beat him up in the presence of witnesses. Around a dozen Scotland Yard officers reached the protest venue after a complaint was made to the police about the attack. The police took statements from this reporter and Ahmed. The police then watched the CCTV camera footage and confirmed that a violent attack had taken place and that it was unprovoked. The Scotland Yard officer in charge said: “We have reviewed the footage and we can confirm that the assault took place. With help from the footage, we will investigate this matter further. We have given crime reference numbers to the victims. “The Watan Group’s chief organizer said he was unable to control the youth because “they are upset at the kidnapping of Afghan ambassador’s daughter”. When told that it was the organizer’s job to keep the protest in control, he said he cannot comment further. A Pakistan High Commission spokesman said that the protest was recorded and the footage has been given to the police. The spokesman said that this is not the first time a protest has turned violent outside the Pakistan High Commission. The High Commission previously launched a complaint with the police through the diplomatic core, but no action has been taken yet. Earlier on May 24 2021 a group of Afghan protesters staged a demonstration outside of the building of the Pakistan High Commission in London. Some of the protesters attacked the building by pelting stones and throwing water bottles despite the presence of the police at the site. Footage of that protest shows several demonstrators throwing objects at Pakistan High Commission’s premises, located in the Lowndes Square, Knightsbridge while chanting offensive slogans. The police could be seen trying to stop the protesters from entering the building. Speaking to media Pakistan High Commission said that a complaint has been launched with the UK government to take action against those who resorted to hooliganism which resulted in damaging the building of the commission. The spokesman said that the video footage of the damage has been shared with the authorities and a request for strict security arrangements has been submitted. The UK government was reminded that during a protest in 2019 by an ethnic group, the Pakistan High Commission’s building was vandalized but no action was taken against the culprits.
The main organizers of the protest outside Pakistan High Commission included Noor Ullah, Dr Qasim Ibrahim, Bacha Khan, Shah Mehmood Khan, Atal Kawan, Sadaat Khan, and Falik Nayaz Khan. Nearly 200 protesters had gathered on the call of a group called “The Watan”, which had arranged a protest against the killings in Afghanistan. This group shares an address with the Afghan embassy in London, at 31 Princes Gate, SW7.
