PFUJ, KUJ condemn attacks on Geo, Jang
KARACHI: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) on Wednesday strongly condemned a series of attacks on the Geo television establishment and its workers and burning of some copies of daily Jang and The News across Sindh.
They termed such acts of terrorism as intolerable and against the freedom of expression and freedom of the press.
According to a press release issued here on Wednesday, PFUJ President Pervaiz Shaukat and Secretary General Amin Yousuf said in a planned manner, activists of two nationalist parties attacked the bureau offices of Geo TV in Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Khairpur, Daharki, Thatta, Jacobabad, Tando Muhammad Khan and Nawabshah.
The arsonists and miscreants forcibly entered the offices and damaged equipment besides manhandling the staffers present at the time of attacks. These attacks were construed as an attack on the freedom of expression guaranteed under the Constitution of Pakistan, freedom of the press and ethics and norms of the society, the PFUJ’s secretary general said.
“Media is duty bound to report all events and trends, including political and national trends, incidents of separatism by any group and by informing the people about graffiti and others calling for a separate province etc was a bounden duty, which Geo television carried out,” the press release further said.
“It is the right of people to know if anything has happened in their city and province and it has always been the media which highlights dangerous trends and demands so that authorities can be forewarned,” the PFUJ’s secretary general said, adding that targeting any mediaperson or house would be taken as an attack on all and the PFUJ would do, whatever it could, to preserve and protect the freedom of press and freedom of expression.
He said that broader consultation over the issue was in progress and soon decisions taken would be made public. He also sought the support of civil society and all sections of population against excesses being committed against print and electronic media.
“The PFUJ urges all the political and nationalist parties that if they have any complaint against any newspaper or TV channel, they can approach the court of law,” the press release said. The Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) also expressed its strong concern over the burning of some copies of daily Jang and The News and attack on the Geo offices in the interior Sindh and also threats given to journalists and workers affiliated to these institutions as a reaction against a programme telecast on Geo News channel a few days ago.
According to the press release, President Siraj Ahmad and General Secretary Hassan Abbass of KUJ termed such an act as against the freedom of expression and freedom of the press. They said that if the nationalist parties and organisations of Sindh have reservations in connection with this Geo programme, then it is their right to express their opinions or hold demonstrations against it, however, it is not right to burn bundles of newspapers and stop journalists from performing their duties.
They said that the KUJ perceived that activists of nationalist parties and organisations were not involved in such acts and some other force, which is against peace in the province, could be involved in such activities. However, it is the responsibility of nationalist, political and religious parties and organisations to unveil such persons, they added.
They appealed to all parties of Sindh to respect the freedom of expression and opinions so that restlessness found among the journalist community could come to an end. Meanwhile, the KUJ strongly condemned the attack on Sheryar Sherry, a host of a private news channel. Sheryar was busy in his work on a programme against criminal elements when he was targeted in Gulistan-e-Jauhar in Karachi. The KUJ asked the governor, chief minister, home minister and information minister of Sindh to take immediate notice of the incident and demanded to nab the culprits forthwith.
Source: The News
Date:7/28/2011
” 
” 
” 
” 
” 
