Lawyers extend full support to journalists
PESHAWAR- On the call Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), the Peshawar-based journalists on Wednesday set up a protest camp in front of Peshawar Press Club against imposition of emergency and restrictions on media and Pemra Ordinance. The protest camp, which was organized at main Sher Shah Soori Road despite of police threats, attracted a large number of working journalists, politicians, lawyers, students and members from civil societies till the end of the protest camp.
Provincial Amir of the JamaatÂe-Islami Sirajul Haq and provincial general secretary of the Awami National Partv Mian Iftikhar Hussain in a dramatic move visited the journalists’ camp for a brief time in the presence of heavy contingent of police and once again dodged the police to arrest the once upon active students leaders.
President of Khyber Union of journalists Jan Afzal, President Peshawar Press Club M. Riaz, senior journalists Shamim Shahid, Suhail Qalandar, Muhammad Riaz, Jamshed Baghwan, Abdul Qadoos led the protest camp, which was attended by more than 100 journalists.
A four-member lawyers team, led by Baber Khan, represented the lawyers community and assured their full support to the protesting journalists in their struggle against emergency and curbs on media. Arshad Qureishi, provincial information secreÂtary of PML-N along with other party workers also visited the camp and expressed solidarity with the journalists community.
The protesting journalists were chanting full-throated slogans against emergency, restrictions on media, closure of private TV channels and Pemra Ordinance. They were demanding lifting of the emergency at once, free and unrestricted media in the country and full freedom to the working journalists. They also appealed to the international community and media and human rights organizations to press the military junta in Pakistan to lift ban on the media and other fundamental rights.
The media persons were wearÂing black armbands and had tied their hands and mouth to lodge their protest against imposition of emergency and restrictions on print and electronic media.
Large number police personnel were deployed in front of Peshawar Press Club, who in the morning asked the journalists not to set up the camp outside of the club, as they were directed by their high-ups. However, the meÂdia men staged the camp in front of the club. The protesters were holding black flags
Source: TheNation
Date:11/15/2007
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