Journalists refuse talks with PM, demand judicial commission for inquiry into Hayatullah case
ISLAMABAD, June 18 2006: Talks between journalists and government over the issue of the brutal murder of journalist Hayatullah in Northern Waziristan failed as protesting journalists refused to hold meeting with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on June 17 until a judicial commission under a Supreme Court judge to interrogate the case is constituted. Minister for State for Information and Broadcasting Tariq Azeem Khan met journalists at the cafeteria of the Parliament House after journalists boycotted the National Assembly proceedings, staged a walkout and demonstrated in front of the Parliament House over the cold blooded murder of the international freelancer and correspondent of a local newspaper.
The Minister for State asked the journalists to form a delegation saying that Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz is willing to hold a meeting with the journalists. He told the journalists to meet the PM and table their demands in front of the Prime Minister. In response to the offer Secretary General Rawalpindi Islamabad Press Club Afzal Butt, PFUJ President Pervez Shaukat and other senior journalists while rejecting the offer stressed over formation of a Judicial Commission as a condition before which no talks can be held with government.
Tariq Azeem assuring journalists of an inquiry into the killing preceded by appropriate action stated that a report on the incident would soon be surfaced. Journalists continued boycott and refused any talks prior to setting up of a judicial commission, it was reported.
Source: The Nation
Date:6/18/2006
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