Govt may swoop on media persons too
ISLAMABAD: The government has ordered the law enforcing agencies to arrest, even, media persons under ‘Emergency Rule’ while performing their duties if found in groups of more than four, an on-duty officer of the district administration told this correspondent Sunday during the crackdown against anti-government elements.
“We don’t want to arrest the media persons despite the strict and clear cut orders from the government to execute Emergency Rules,” the officer said.
Crackdown against journalists is under consideration of concerned authorities and can be launched before the countrywide protest plan by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, reliable sources said, adding, however, dozens of media persons have been marked for detention.
Meanwhile, extending the region of ‘Red Zone’ up to Embassy Road near Jang Plaza, heavy contingent of civil military and police has been deployed to deal with the anti-government protesting rallies.
Hamid Gul, former chief of ISI, and some others were arrested under 3 MPO (Maintenance of Public Order) while giving interview to the national and international television channels near Jang Plaza.
Meanwhile, hundreds of lawyers, politicians, activists of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and civil societies have been arrested throughout the country during protest demonstrations as reaction to imposition of emergency in the country.
A joint force of thousands of personnel of the Capital and Punjab police were deployed on the way to the Chief Justice House to intercept the protesters.
An unconvincing and ineffective protest was staged in front of Marriott Hotel Sunday afternoon. A few gentlemen and ladies — some of them carrying cups of coffee — participated in the demonstration against the government and chanted slogans against President Musharraf.
The police arrested a few people — six men and two ladies — including Ikram Chaudhry, former president High Court Bar Association Rawalpindi Bench, and Nuzhat Aamar, leaders of PML-N.
Meanwhile, the police arrested Khadim Hussain, additional advocate general Punjab, from I-8 while driving towards the camp office of Press Club for addressing a press conference against the government. Heavy contingent of police cordoned off the Press Club building and impeded the journalists from entering the Press Club building. The police manhandled the office-bearers of the Press Club who were trying to enter the Press Club, Afzal Butt, General Secretary Rawalpindi Islamabad Press Club told this correspondent. However, life out of the ‘Red Zone’ remained calm and normal.
Source: The News
Date:11/5/2007
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