Rally in Jacobabad against killings of media men in Quetta
JACOBABAD: A rally was taken out and a demonstration was held by the Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), led by its President Afzal Butt and General Secretary Khursheed Abbasi, at the Jacobabad Press Club against the killing of journalist Irshad Mastoi and two others in Quetta by unidentified accused.
It also condemned the police torture against journalists in Islamabad. Journalists of Sukkur, Khairpur, Shikarpur, Ghotki, Larkana, Naushehro Feroze, Badin, Umerkot, Tharparkar also held protest rallies at respective districts and condemned the killings.
A condemnation meeting was held at the Jacobabad Press Club after which a rally, led by President PFUJ Afzal Butt, General Secretary Khursheed Abbasi, Lala Asad Pathan, Lala Rehman and others marched on the main road after which a sit-in was staged against the killing of journalist Irshad Mastoi.
Addressing the participants, representatives of the PFUJ said the assassination of journalists and their targeted killings were being patronised by a certain group that does not tolerate truth. They said the journalists of Pakistan, especially those of Balochistan, were passing through tough time and sacrificing lives in the line of duty.
They said the incident on Thursday was a clear failure of the Balochistan government. They said certain groups do not tolerate the freedom of press and want controlled media. But journalists would sacrifice their lives instead of compromising on the freedom of expression.
They pointed out that many journalists were facing life threats, but the government was not bothering to provide them with security. They demanded arrest of the killers and appropriate security to working journalists. They urged Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali, CM Balochistan and Governor Balochistan to take notice of the assassination of journalists and ensure prompt security to them and arrest the killers within ten days or the PFUJ would launch protest campaign across the country.
The journalists also condemned the action of police against journalists in Islamabad in which many journalists had been injured. They said action against journalists was pre-planned and aimed at stopping live coverage of the PTI and PAT demonstrations.
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