Emergency, harassment of newsmen flayed
KARACHI – Various units of the Karachi Union of Journalists and its affiliates held protest meetings on Monday condemning imposition of emergency in the country and curbs on the media and harassment of journalists.
In their meetings they demanded immediate lifting of the draconian law and curbs on the media. These meetings were organized in Daily Dawn, Dawn News TV, The News, Jang, Nawa-i-Waqt, The Nation, Geo TV , ARY, Aman, Asas, Al-Sharq, daily Awam, Daily News, Business Day, Business Recorder, AAj Tv, Daily Ties, daily Express, daily Intekhab and Islam, Jinnah, Jurat, Karachi City, Evening Special, daily Din, Aajkal, Royal TV, Apna TV, KTN, Khabrain, Morning Special, Pakistan, Rang TV, daily Ummat and Waqt TV.
In their meeting the participants adopted resolutions condemning the issuance of successive notifications proposing curbs on media and treatment meted out to members of press, their detentions and threats issued by government functionaries and siege of press clubs all around the country.
They were saddened that judiciary, civil society and journalist community have been attacked by imposition of the PCO, and these steps have encouraged the state machinery to vindicate and subjugate press.
The KUJ members were opposed to any deals, which some media barons were negotiating with the government for the revival of their channel, keeping aside the issue of press freedom.
The meetings also demanded implementation of seventh Wage Award and urged the owners of newspapers to pay them the 7th Wage Award, and launch a joint struggle with the journalist organizations for the freedom of expression, and against draconian laws.
Besides protesting in the units, early in the morning employees of Geo news and Jang group had gathered outside the Sindh High Court while the petition filed by the owners of the private TV channel was expected to come up. Later they gathered in the Karachi Press Club and slammed the clamp on media freedom and closing of private TV channels.
Source: The Nation
Date:11/13/2007
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