Journalists’ hunger strike
KARACHI, Nov 14: Journalists on Wednesday observed a token hunger strike outside the Karachi Press Club on the ninth day of their protest campaign against imposition of emergency and curbs on the media.
Slogans demanding lifting of all restrictions on the media and implementation of the 7th wage award for newspaper industry workers were raised by office-bearers and some members of the Karachi Union of Journalists and its affiliated bodies who observed a day-long fast. A strong police contingent remained present near the protesters’ camp but no untoward incident took place.
At the end of the day, veteran trade unionist Minhaj Barna broke the fast of the hunger strikers by asking them to drink juices.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Barna said that imposition of emergency was not a new thing for the country.
In the past too, journalists and civil society organisations faced similar restrictions and their representatives endured harassment and detention.
He called for a decisive and forceful movement for the restoration of press freedom.
KPC President Sabihuddin Ghousi announced that as part of the campaign, a seminar on “Emergency and Media Curbs” would be held at the KPC on Thursday to coincide with the Global Action Day, announced by the International Federation of Journalists, to condemn emergency laws and restrictions on the media. It would be addressed by Justice (r) Wajihuddin Ahmad and other leaders.
Meanwhile, the Karachi Committee of the All Pakistan Newspaper Employees Confederation in a meeting on Tuesday expressed its concern over the governmentÂ’s refusal to withdraw the laws curtailing press freedom. The meeting, chaired by Zakir Ansari, observed that the government-press relations had remained tense throughout the tenure of Gen Pervez Musharraf. APNEC chairman Shafiuddin Ashraf also attended the meeting.
Source: Dawn
Date:11/15/2007
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