KhUJ, PPC protest PEMRA ordinance
PESHAWAR: People protested in front of the Governor’s House on Tuesday to criticise the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA, Amendment) Ordinance 2007.
Lawyers, civil society representatives, traders and leaders of political parties also joined the demonstration organised by the Khyber Union of Journalists (KhUJ) and Peshawar Press Club (PPC).
“President Pervez Musharraf has finally attacked the state’s fourth pillar after attacking democracy, constitution and judiciary. Journalists and lawyers should now launch a joint struggle against the government,” said protesters who marched from the press club to the Governor’s House.
Security around the Governor’s House was tightened and security personnel stopped journalists, lawyers and politicians about 200 yards away from the House gate.
KhUJ President Jan Afzal rejected the PEMRA ordinance, and asked the government to withdraw the decision. He said the ban on Geo TV transmissions was tantamount to curbing the freedom of expression, adding that President Pervez Musharraf had attacked the freedom of media with the PEMRA ordinance.
Peshawar Press Club President Mohammad Riaz said the “man who has been making tall claims for the last seven years cannot tolerate a five-day live coverage of the chief justice.” He demanded that the government lift all bans on media and suspend the “anti-media PEMRA Ordinance”, otherwise journalists would launch a countrywide protest movement.
Qazi Mohammad Anwar, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry’s counsel and chairman of the Pakistan Bar Council’s executive committee, said the ban was President Musharraf’s reaction to media’s role in informing Pakistanis about facts. “According to the Constitution, access to information on important issues is every citizen’s right and the Pakistani media is honestly playing its role towards this end,” he said.
Anwar said, “On the Pakistan Bar Council’s call, the legal fraternity will observe a countrywide protest on June 7 against the PEMRA ordinance,” adding that lawyers were supporting media personnel and would resist the PEMRA ordinance.
Aurat Foundation Resident Director Rakhshanda Naz said the military dictator had finally attacked the last pillar of the state after the judiciary. “Whenever a military dictator’s rule is about to end, he attacks media. Musharraf’s act shows that his days are now numbered,” she said.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Provincial leader Haji Muhammad Afzal said that instead of discussing the country’s law and order, President Musharraf had discussed his survival in the recent National Security Council meeting. He said Musharraf’s act proved that his life was in danger and that he was planning to exit the country.
Source: Daily Times
Date:6/6/2007
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