Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif called the incumbent premier, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, after attack on journalist Ahmed Noorani on Friday, saying the incident should be thoroughly investigated and accused be brought to the fore.

A statement issued regarding the matter quoted Nawaz as saying that the incident was not only an attack on a journalist but on independent journalism on the whole.

Although many journalists have been thrashed in the past, he added, truth cannot be suppressed by attacking the ones who are impartial and courageous.

Noorani, was assaulted by unidentified attackers on Islamabad?s Khayaban-e-Suharwardy road on Friday.

Journalist Ahmad Noorani attacked in Islamabad

Six unidentified attackers beat up the senior journalist and his driver near Zero Point

His car was stopped by three men travelling on a motorcycle near Zero Point Interchange while he was on his way home in Islamabad from Rawalpindi.

The three men got down from their unmarked motorcycle after chasing down Noorani's case while another three, who were standing where the car was stopped with another unmarked motorcycle, joined in and severely beat up Noorani and his driver with iron rods after throwing out the keys from the ignition.

The attackers sped away on the two bikes, with no licence plates, towards Zero Point after onlookers began gathering at the site and traffic started coming to a halt on the busy road.