US State Department responds to journalist abduction attempt in Pakistan

WASHINGTON – The US State Department has said that it would “continue tomonitor developments” after journalist Taha Siddiqui escaped an abductionbid in Islamabad on Wednesday, reported a foreign media outlet.link>

“We are always very concerned over any reports of violence againstjournalists, in Pakistan and around the world. We will continue to monitordevelopments,” the US State Department said in a statement.

Taha Siddiqui, an Islamabad-based journalist, on Wednesday narrowly escapedbeing kidnapped by armed men, in an incident that came months after hecomplained of being harassed by security services.

He described how his taxi was stopped on the highway when another vehicleveered and braked in front of it. About a dozen men armed with rifles andrevolvers pulled him out of the cab, beat him and ‘threatened to kill’ him.

Following the escape, the journalist made his way to the nearby Khannapolice station. Khanna police then accompanied him to the Koral policestation, in whose jurisdiction the incident took place.

Talking to Pakistan Today, a senior police officer of Islamabad Police saidthat this is his [Siddiqui’s] version that he managed to escape and theabductors ‘belonged’ to the state agencies. “However, police willinvestigate the matter that how come it happens. The police will also takevideos from the safe city authorities,” the officer added.

Over his dramatic escape from the situation, he told reporters that being afield reporter and having 12-year-experience, he knows well how to managesurvival in these circumstances.

Taha Siddiqui, 33, is an award-winning journalist and Pakistancorrespondent for the Paris-based France24 English language news televisionchannel and has reported for major media outlets such as the New YorkTimes, Christian Science Monitor, the Guardian and Bureau chief Pakistan ofWION, Indian news channel.

He was previously summoned by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) toanswer for Twitter posts they considered to be critical of the military.However, Taha refused to answer the summons unless he was formally charged,and filed a petition with the Islamabad High Court against furtherharassment by the authorities.