Govt urged to provide security to all journalists
Karachi: Journalists across the country continued protesting against the attack on Geo News anchorman Hamid Mir on the third consecutive day on Monday.
Karachi-based journalists gathered outside the press club to demand an independent judicial inquiry into the attack.
The demonstration was organised by the Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) on the call of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) led by PFUJ President Rana Azeem.
They condemned the “cowardly attack” and demanded of the government to provide security to journalists. A large number of journalists belonging to different media groups attended the protest to show solidarity with Mir.
Leaders of political parties, including the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), were also present on the occasion.
Senior PPP leader Latif Mughal and MQM coordination committee member Amin-ul-Haq were among those who participated in the countrywide call for protest.
KUJ President GM Jamali said that it was the responsibility of the government to protect its citizens. He demanded from the government to make security arrangements for journalists.
He appealed to the owners of the media groups to unite at one platform to raise their voices against the attack on Mir. The government should take action against the perpetrators or “we shall be forced to hold a massive protest outside the parliament”, he added.
The demonstrators said journalists would continue struggling for their rights, adding that their voices could not be suppressed by terrorists.
MQM’s Haq said: “We have joined this protest to show solidarity with journalists, as our party believes in peaceful coexistence and has always supported journalists.”
Journalists are the most respectable segment of society and they empower the public with information, but they are being attacked for speaking the truth, he added.
South Asia Women Media Association General Secretary Gharida Farooqui urged the journalists to unite at one platform.
She said: “It is ironic that we are divided on petty issues. We should be above party politics. Today Mir was attacked and tomorrow it could be other journalists. Please unite at one forum. How long would we keep staging protests against these attacks?”
Senior Geo News reporter Nida Farooqui said the voice of truth could not be silenced, as “we journalists are determined to present the true picture to the people, and no threats would deter us in providing the people with access to information”.
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