Journalists observe hunger strike, hold rally in Peshawar
PESHAWAR: Continuing their protest, journalists observed hunger strike and a rally here on Thursday against the imposition of emergency and curbs on media. A large number of journalists participated in the token hunger strike organized by the Khyber Union of Journalists (KHUJ) in front of the Peshawar Press Club.
The media persons were also visited by members of the civil society and politicians including Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Provincial Secretary General Najmuddin, Ijaz Durrani, Shabina Ayaz and Saima Munir of the Alliance to Protect Human Rights (APHR), who expressed solidarity with them.
An interactive session convened by the South Asia Free Media Association (Safma) at the PPC condemned the November 3 proclamation of President Pervez Musharraf as the Chief of the Army Staff and the restriction against the country’s media that followed and demanded immediate end to both the diktats.
Speaking on the occasion, Safma General Secretary Farzana Ali condemned the government’s attitude towards the journalist community and alleged that prominent reporters and anchorpersons of print and electronic media were being targeted.
Senior journalist Sohail Qalandar said that the government was trying to depict to the general public that the country’s media worked against the national interest. “We are aware of and concerned about our national interests and a dictator need not tell us what is in the best interest of Pakistan,” he argued.
He condemned the dual standards adopted by the West regarding the form of governments in their countries and in the third world.
The session was later followed by a protest rally by the participants in front of press club. They chanted slogans against the imposition of emergency and curbs on media.
Source: The News
Date:11/16/2007
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