Islamabad police on Thursday reportedly baton-charged journalists who attempted to break a security cordon and take their "peaceful procession" towards the Parliament House through D-Chowk to commemorate the World Press Freedom Day.
Police placed barbed wires on the road at the Chandni Chowk intersection in an attempt to keep the journalists' procession from moving to D-Chowk.
In the wake of the current law and order situation and terror threats in the federal capital, Section 144 of the CrPc has been enacted in Islamabad, which bans large assemblies and public gatherings in the Red Zone.
Police confronted the journalists when they tried to force their way by removing the barriers and make their way to D-Chowk.
Chief Justice Saqib Nisar took notice of the incident and ordered that capital administration, police and the advocate general, Islamabad, to present reports explaining the incident.
Meanwhile, journalists alleged that police "did not even spare female journalists and resorted to violence against them."
"We were taking a peaceful procession to the parliament," Shehryar, a journalist and one of the protest leaders told the court.
"Let the report be presented, we will hear this case tomorrow," Justice Nisar concluded.
