Journalists hold rallies against resolution
LAHORE: Observing a ‘black day’, journalists held demonstrations across the country on Saturday in protest against the resolution passed unanimously by the Punjab Assembly against the media.
The media personnel reiterated that they would continue to play their role of exposing the ills of society without getting intimidated by any attempt such as the one initiated by the ruling PML-N and supported by other political parties in the Punjab Assembly.
The main event of the day, dubbed ‘black day’ by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, took place in Lahore.
During a demonstration at Faisal Square, journalists refused to get impressed by an announcement by PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif that the mover of the resolution, Sanaullah Mastikhel, should be ‘thrown out’ of the party. They described Mr Sharif’s announcement as a ‘damage control step’.
The journalists said their protests would continue until the resolution was withdrawn and action was taken against all those who had prepared it.
Carrying placards and banners, they raised slogans against the government and against those MPAs who had hurled abuses and threats at journalists when the resolution was moved and after its passage by the assembly.
Workers and leaders of the PML-Q, Tehrik-i-Insaaf, JUI and Tehrik Minhajul Quran and representatives of the Lahore bar and Lahore High Court bar associations attended the demonstration to show solidarity with journalists.
The Council of Pakistan Newspapers Editors held a meeting and condemned the resolution and attitude of the MPAs towards the media, CPNE president Khushnood Ali Khan said. Protests were also held in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Faisalabad, Multan, Hyderabad, Murree, Attock and Mirpurkhas and several other cities and towns.
Source: Dawn
Date:7/11/2010
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