| December
11, 2007 |
CURBS ON MEDIA
ISLAMABAD: Journalists and lawyers termed Monday's International Human Rights Day as a 'Black Day' in Pakistan during a rally organised for freedom of press.
Hundreds of journalists, lawyers and members of civil society marched from the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Press Club Camp Office in Melody to GEO Television office in Blue Area. They all chanted anti-government slogans and demanded restoration of pre-November 3 judiciary in Pakistan and lifting of ban on GEO TV.
A large number of police contingent also walked with the rally that passed through the Constitution Avenue and also stopped briefly in front of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) office to register their protest.
Relatives and friends of missing persons and students also joined the rally and expressed their solidarity with journalists for their fight against the press freedom. The rally was the part of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) campaign against curbs on media in the country.
In unison, all the participants of the rally criticised the government for enforcing press and publication ordinances to discourage media for playing its positive role in Pakistan.
Dr Shahid Masood, whose programme 'Mere Mutabiq' is nowadays ban on GEO Television, thanked the participants of the rally for showing solidarity with GEO TV. "Your struggle would not go in vain and I hope the curbs will be lifted very soon," Dr Shahid said.
A senior journalist C R Shamsi addressed the rally in front of Pemra office on the Constitution Avenue. He highlighted the fact that journalists had faced lots of hardships during the Martial Law of late General Mohammad Ziaul Haq. "But journalists fought for their fundamental right of free expression at that time and they will do so the same now because we want the restoration of the Constitution and freedom of speech," Shamsi said in his emotional speech.
Sardar Asmatullah, president High Court Bar Association, also termed Monday as the Black Day in the history of Pakistan. "What kind of Human Rights Day we are celebrating in Pakistan when Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, his family, lawyers and judges are still arrested," Asmat told the participants of the rally.
He termed the decision of all the leading political parties to participate in the general elections as nothing more than "a big disappointment." "They (political parties) have disappointed all of us, but journalists and lawyers' movement is getting momentum day by day and I hope you will get more strength in the future," Asmat said.
Another leading journalist and an official of PFUJ Fouzia Shahid said that 2007 will leave a big blot the way Human Rights were suppressed in Pakistan. "We all are still on roads and we are fighting for our rights," she said.
She also highlighted the fact that the cases of missing persons also needed to be addressed. "When a murderer gets a fair trial in the courts why not the government allow missing persons to get a free trial?" Fouzia questioned.
PFUJ secretary general Mazhar Abbass said that journalists had no political agenda and stressed the government and Pemra to restore the freedom of press. "PFUJ started its struggle on August 2, 1950 for the independent media and it would continue," Mazhar said.
He said no government in the past could quash the freedom of media. "And no one would be allowed to do so at this time," he said. "The journalist community is committed to fight against the injustice carried on by the government," he added.
Afzal Butt, President Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) asked the journalists to actively participate in the rallies. He also lauded the support of lawyers and members of civil society in journalists fight for press freedom.
KHUJ stages demo to condemn media curbs
PESHAWAR: Like other parts of the country, the Khyber Union of Journalists (KhUJ) also staged a protest demonstration to condemn restrictions on the media and the judiciary on the international human rights day here on Monday.
Led by the KhUJ President Jan Afzal, General Secretary Nasir Hussain and President Press Club Mohammad Riaz, the protesting journalists marched from the Press Club to the Governor House.
Carrying banners and placards inscribed with anti-government slogans, the participants chanted slogans against the government and in favour of independent judiciary and press. Representatives of civil society and senior staff teachers association also accompanied the protesting journalists and reiterated their commitment to support them till the achievement of their goal.
Speaking on the occasion, Jan Afzal, Nasir Hussain and Mohammad Riaz criticised the government for imposing restrictions on the media and the judiciary. They reiterated their commitment to continue their struggle till the withdrawal of the Pemra ordinance.
They said journalists had never accepted such bans in the past nor would they do so in future. They said they would announce their protest strategy phase wise and their movement would continue till the withdrawal of ban on the media and Geo TV.
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