Journalists protest media curbs
ISLAMABAD: Journalists on Friday staged a protest demonstration against the imposition of emergency and restrictions on media at Aabpara. Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) organised the event. Numerous social workers and students also joined the protest. Ansar Burney, a minister in the caretaker setup, and Senator Illyas Bilour attended the protest.
The participants held placards and banners with ‘we want freedom’ and ‘remove the media restrictions’ inscribed on them. They shouted slogans against the state of emergency, curbs on media and the PEMRA ordinance and wore black ribbons on their arms, hands and mouths as a sign of protest. They vowed to continue the protest until the government lifted the restrictions. Afzal Butt, the RIUJ secretary general, said journalists would continue the protest till the restoration of the peopleÂ’s fundamental rights. He denounced the journalists’ arrests in the country. He said the government needed to roll back the PEMRA ordinance.
A number of other journalists and social activists also spoke on the event. CR Shamsi, minority leader J Salik and CDA Employees Union Secretary General Chuadhary Yasin were also present. Later, the people peacefully dispersed.
Source: Daily Times
Date:11/17/2007
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