ISLAMABAD (December 17 2007): Rawalpindi, Islamabad Union of Journalist (RIUJ) on Sunday held a protest demonstration against Pemra Ordinance and curbs on electronic media. Hundreds of journalists, students, lawyers, activists of civil society and other people participated in the protest demonstration and chanted slogans against the restrictions imposed on journalists’ community and the media.
President RIUJ Afzal Butt in his addressed termed the lifting of emergency and martial law as farce which is tantamount to hoodwink the world. He said virtually the emergency has not been lifted, lawyers are still in jails and the deposed judges are in house arrest.
He said barbed wire is still erected on the Constitution Avenue. He said the television channels are banned to strangle the truth and without freedom of press and restoration of judiciary the fair and transparent elections are impossible.
Afzal Butt said that the agitation is gaining momentum against the rulers with the passage of time. He vowed to continue the struggle for the freedom of media and reinstatement of judiciary.
He said agitation will also be held on Eid-ul-Azha. He demanded the restoration of judiciary, lifting of ban on media and annulment of Pemra Ordinance. The protest demonstration was also addressed by Hamid Mir, Qarban Satti, RIUJ Senior Vice President Shehryar Khan, Joint Secretary Sahibzada Khalid Khattak, Javed Iqbal and representatives of several other organisations.
Source: Business Recorder
Date:12/17/2007
