Journalists boycott until SC probe
ISLAMABAD, June 20 2006: The protesting mediamen announced June 19 to continue boycott of parliament’s proceedings until the government accepts their demand for an independent fact-finding mission and a Supreme Court commission to investigate the murder of The Nation Correspondent Hayat Ullah in North Waziristan. The journalists were holding demonstration in front of the Parliament House as part of the countrywide protest to mark the Black Day against the murder of the journalist. National Assembly Speaker Ch. Amir Hussain after having a meeting with members of both ruling and opposition parties at his chambers informed the House that he had talked to Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz about the murder of the journalist and the situation arising out of it.
He also said that everyone is aggrieved over this incident and the whole House is with journalists. He informed the House that in addition to announcement of compensation the government had constituted a judicial commission comprising Peshawar High Court Judge Justice Muhammad Raza Khan to probe the murder. A notification in this regard was later issued. However, the journalists rejected the government steps terming them as mere cosmetic treatment to cool them down and put the issue under the carpet like in the past. They said that a judicial commission only of Supreme Court level would be acceptable.
Federal Information Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani meanwhile came out of the House to convince the protesting journalists. However, Durrani failed to secure any breakthrough as the journalists were continuously shouting “No, No” after he tried to convince them. They demanded pragmatic steps including termination of the Political Agent of North Waziristan, a fact-finding mission to Mirali comprising MPs from government, Opposition, FATA, lawyers and journalists.
Various press organizations’ representatives, political leaders and journalists joined the protest in front of the Parliament House when the budget session of National Assembly was in progress. PML-N MNA Tehmina Daulatana, PML MNA Kashmala Tariq, ANP Information Secretary and former Senator Zahid Khan, former Federal Minister J Salik and former MNA and Chairman Human Rights Council of Pakistan Mumtaz Tarar attended the protest to express solidarity with the journalists. The demonstrators were carrying placards inscribed with slogans “We want press freedom”, “Hayat’s killers be brought to justice” and “Harassment of journalists be immediately stopped”.
They also chanted anti-government slogans “No to any deal on Hayat Ullah’s blood”, “We want protection and freedom”, “We want justice” and “Shame, shame on government”.
Later, the protesting journalists dispersed peacefully. However, at a meeting held later at the Parliament House cafeteria they decided to continue the boycott of the Parliament’s proceedings until the government accepts their demand for an independent investigation into Hayat Ullah’s murder. They also formed a committee to see the issues relating to the ongoing country-wide protest by their community members. The committee comprises eminent journalists including Absar Alam, Imtiaz Gul, Rauf Kalasra, Asma Sherazi, Bilal Taheem and Javed Soomro.
It will devise a future strategy in consultation with representatives of Pakistan Federation of Union of Journalists, Khyber Union of Journalists, Tribal Union of Journalists, Rawalpindi Union of Journalists and Rawlpindi-Islamabad Press Club. It was also decided to take into confidence All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) and Council of Pakistan Newspapers Editors (CPNE) over the issue of ongoing protest. Earlier, addressing the demonstration, PML-N leader Tehmina Daulatana strongly condemned the brutal killing of the tribal journalist. She was critical of the government’s claim of freedom of press in the country.
ANP leader Zahid Khan noted that the murder was a deliberate move on the part of government to discourage other journalists to stop writing truth. “They want to conceal the real picture particularly in Tribal Areas,” he added. Senior journalists and representatives of various media organizations including Aroosa Alam, Pervez Shaukat, C.R. Shamsi, Tariq Usmani and Anwar Raza also addressed on the occasion. They condemned the killing of Hayat Ullah’s and the release of the accused in the murder of a journalist, Munir Sangi, in Sindh by police. They demanded of the government to ensure protection of journalists across the country especially in the Tribal Areas.
Source: The Nation
Date:6/20/2006
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