Journalists stage without in protest against strong-arm tactics
KARACHI: The print and electronic media journalists staged a token without from the Sindh Assembly on Wednesday to lodge a protest against the growing incidents of victimisation and maltreatment of journalists by the law enforcing agencies aimed at suppressing the dissemination of news and views among the masses all over the country. The protest was lodged to condemn the manhandling of Senior journalist CR Shamsi by the security guard of Federal Labour Minister, implicating of the News reporter in a false triple murder case in Islamabad, missing of Mehr Din Marri, correspondent of daily Kawish, who has been missing since last three months, implication in false cases of Mukesh Rupeta of Geo TV, Abu Latif of Friday Special, and M Tahir of Wajood.
The journalists covering Sindh Assembly proceedings also held a meeting and condemned the government for not taking note of the journalists’ protest. They were of the view that this attitude was a highly reprehensible act and proved that the government was not sincere in taking notice of violence against journalists. The meeting noted with concern that no member from the treasury benches came to listen to the problems of the media men and this act proved that the government wanted that the boycott of the proceedings by journalists should continue, as this was the session, which was requisitioned by the opposition.
It was decided that journalists would boycott the session convened by the government if this attitude of the treasury benches did not change. Later, the journalists ended their walkout at the request of the Leader of Opposition Nisar Khuhro and Younus Barai who came over to the pressroom and assured the opposition would take up the issues of journalists in the House. The meeting decided that journalists would announce their future line of action very soon if the violence and victimisation against them continued. The journalists also elected Syed Safdar Ali, Shahid Jatoi, Tassaduq Ghori, Rashid Ajmeri and Razzaq Abro as members of Press committee of the Sindh Assembly.
Source: The Nation
Date:9/21/2006
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