A number of 11th ward’s residents started a protest in front of TV 1. This protest was in regards to a report aired by TV 1 about racketeering of Police from hawkers. The protestors were chanting slogans supporting the Police Head of 11th Ward and against TV 1.
After this protest, a meeting was held in the head office of TV 1, which was participated by Gen. Abdul Zahir, Head of Kabul Police, Sediq Sediqi, the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Interior, Fahim Dashti, the Executive Director of Afghanistan’s National Journalists Union (ANUJ) and Abdullah Azada, Chief Editor of TV 1. Abdullah Azada, the Chief Editor of TV 1 expressed his concerns in regards to such protests and stated the involvedness of a number of police representatives behind these protests. According to him, such behaviors are severely threatening the immunity of reporters and journalists of this TV.
While stating that the protests have been prevented and the measures have been taken to secure the TV 1, the Kabul Police Head had considerations regarding this actual report of TV 1 and that this report has been prepared secretly and the TV does not have enough evidence. Gen. Zahir said: “While we are welcoming such reports and we don’t let anyone to restrain or override freedom of speech, we would like to request TV 1 to help them recognize those individual police who have racketeered the hawkers in their investigations.”
According to Kabul Police representatives, currently 30 police have been arrested following the accusations made and investigations are ongoing.
According to Fahim Dashti, the Executive Director of ANUJ, while this union is condemning any kind of activities which are against the freedom of speech, shares his concern in regards to the employees of this TV and wants the Ministry of Interior to rigidly pay attention to this individual case.
