Journalists plan big protest tomorrow
The community of journalists plans to stage a big protest demonstration on Tuesday as part of their ongoing protest against curbs placed on the print and electronic media and the closure of two TV channels – Geo and Ary.
Protest processions will be taken out across the country on the call of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ). The Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ), in accordance with PFUJ guidelines, will also hold demos, processions, rallies and protest camps.
The route of the rally will be decided at the eleventh hour to keep the entire programme secret from law-enforcement agencies and the provincial administration due to security reasons and possible arrests, said KUJ President Shamim-ur-Rahman at a protest meeting held at the lawn of the Karachi Press Club (KPC) on Sunday.
Journalists were asked to be prepared for any eventuality and fully participate in the rally as a “forceful demonstration” by journalists would convey the message to the authorities concerned.
The final programme will be announced on Monday, as day to day developments had forced the media associations to chalk out programmes accordingly. “We were not ready for certain unforeseen developments, like the closure of two TV channels that shook the entire nation and the people across the world,” he added.
Speaking on the occasion, President, ATJ, Javed Saba said that journalists should stage protests in an organised manner and avoid any aggressive steps.
The meeting also condemned the murder of the wife of slain journalist Hayatullah in a bomb blast and the continuous arrests and crackdown on the media. It also condemned the ban on the entry of journalists into Sindh High Court premises and demanded of the authorities concerned to avoid a confrontational policy.
Later, the journalists staged a protest demonstration outside KPC and chanted slogans against the ban on media and closure of Geo. Carrying banners and placards, they were shouting slogans: “We want freedom”, “ban on media not acceptable”.
A police mobile was positioned outside KPC. However, no untoward incident took place as the demonstrators dispersed peacefully after registering their protest.
Source: The News
Date:11/19/2007
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