KUJ organises token hunger strike to protest against media restrictions
KARACHI: The Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) organised a token hunger strike on Wednesday against media restrictions imposed under a State of Emergency after a protest call by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ).
A token hunger strike camp was set up outside KPC, Wednesday morning and was led by KUJ President Shamim-ur-Rehman, Ghousi, Electronic Media Association President Javed Sabha, KPC General Secretary Imtiaz Faran and KUJ General Secretary Javed Asghar Chaudhry.
A large number or journalists from wore black armbands and also hoisted black flags at the camp. Protestors chanted slogans such as ‘Azad Sahafat Zindabad’ ‘Media per pabandi namanzoor’ ‘Zulm ky zabty hum nahin mantay’ ‘Hum cheen kay lengay azadi,’ ‘wage award nafiz karo’ and ‘PEMRA ordinance na manzoor’
Renowned media trade unionists and one of the pioneers of the media freedom movement, Minhaj Berna offered juice to the protestors at 4:00 p.m. to mark the end of the strike.
“The struggle for media freedom will succeed ultimately and President Musharraf does not have enough reasons to restrict the media. Previously General Ayub Khan and General Ziaul Haq had used the same tactics but were unable to stop our struggle,” he said.
All institutions of the state must work under the constitution, said Rehman. However, rulers were always trying to rip the constitution apart and thrash the institutions.
A public meeting for journalists will also be held in the premises of the Karachi Press Club at 3:00 p.m. today, said KPC President Sabihuddin Ghousi.
A delegation of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), comprising Jamil Soomro, Waqar Mehdi and Aijaz Durrani also visited the camp to express solidarity with the journalists.
Source: Daily Times
Date:11/15/2007
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