Gunmen attack Pakistan's Karachi press club

A gang of unidentified armed gunmen today attacked Pakistan's Karachi Press Club, damaging the historic property and thrashing staffers of a private news channel.

Some armed men who could not be identified attacked the press club premises in the evening and caused damage to the property and vehicles parked there, said senior police officer Fazil Jamali.

"All the members had to rush out for safety as these armed men broke windows and furniture and spread terror," Mr Jamali said.

The armed men also grabbed cameras from five vans parked near the club and attacked the staff of one of the private news channels who were standing near their van.

Sindh Home Minister Anwar Siyal has ordered an immediate investigation into the matter by senior police officials. "The armed men fled before the arrival of the police and rangers," a club member said.

The attack came when supporters and activists of different religious groups were observing Chehlum of Mumtaz Qadri, assassin of former Punjab governor Salman Taseer, who was executed earlier this month.

Qadri who was on VIP security duty for the late governor had pumped dozens of bullets into Mr Taseer in Islamabad for allegedly talking about reviewing the blasphemy law.

The religious groups were complaining about a media blackout on the coverage of their activities about Qadri. Karachi Press Club was the first press club established in Pakistan's Karachi city. Its first election was held in 1958.