http://thenews.jang.com.pk/print3.asp?id=11076
ISLAMABAD: Journalists Friday observed 'black day' throughout the
country on the call of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ)
against the imposition of emergency in the country, ban on private
TV channels and new curbs imposed on media.
Journalists of the twin
cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad observed black day on Friday.
They (journalists) boycotted all the official functions while black
flags were hoisted at the Press Clubs.
The protesting journalists
wearing black ribbons on their shoulders staged a protest camp outside
the Rawalpindi/Islamabad Press Club camp office. A large number
of media persons of the print and electronic media including PFUJ
President Huma Ali, PFUJ Secretary General, Mazhar Abbas, RIUJ President,
Afzal Bhutt, President Rawalpindi/Islamabad Press Club, Mushtaq
Minhas and senior journalists Hamid Mir, Syed Talat Hussain, Naseem
Zehra and others participated the protest.
The protesting journalists
were chanting slogans as "No to curbs on media", "No
to Pemra Ordinance", "We want freedom" and "Lift
ban on private news channels." They were also chanting slogans
demanding reinstatement of the deposed chief justice and other judges,
restoration of Constitution and condemning the government for imposing
curbs on media.
Speaking on the occasion
the journalists' leaders vowed to continue struggle for the press
freedom and rejected all the curbs on media in this regard. They
demanded immediate lifting of ban on the private TV channels and
access of the journalists to free information. Furthermore, they
announced that the journalists would stage a protest demonstration
today (Saturday) in the federal capital that will be started from
in front of the Aaj TV office, Blue Area and the protesting journalists
would march up to Pemra office.
In Faisalabad, journalists
held a protest demonstration in front of Faisalabad Press Club against
the imposition of emergency, new curbs on media and crackdown on
media persons, lawyers, political activists and civil society members.
Most of the protesters had covered their mouths and arms with black
cloth as a symbol of press gag.
Addressing the protest
rally, Mian Shafique Anjum, President Faisalabad Union of Journalists,
Shahid Ali President TV journalists Association, Muhammad Amin,
Vice President, News Photographers Association and other senior
journalists vowed to continue their struggle against black laws
and to protect fundamental rights of the people and media freedom.
Against the amendments
in Pemra and PPO ordinance, black day was also observed under the
aegis of Khyber Union of Journalists in Peshawar like other parts
of the country on the call of PFUJ.
The journalists wore
black ribbons round their arms while black flags were hoisted and
banners were displayed on the building of Peshawar Press Club. The
journalists also boycotted the government functions. The journalists
held protest demonstration on Mall Road and protested against the
curbs imposed on media.
Journalists also observed
black day in Sukkur. In a meeting, the journalists condemned the
crackdown on media. In Jacobabad Press Club, District Union of Journalist
President Pervez Abro presided over a meeting and condemned the
government measures. -- Agencies
MULTAN: On the call of
PFUJ, the general bodies of Multan Union of Journalist (Barna) and
Multan Press Club jointly observed black day to condemn curbs on
the media and amendments to the press laws.
A black flag was hoisted
on the Multan Press Club building, which would stay there till the
withdrawal of emergency and amendments to the press laws. Journalists
rejected black laws under the PCO and expressed solidarity with
Jang Group Chief Executive Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman.
A joint meeting chaired
by Multan Press Club President Shakeel Anjum, demanded immediate
withdrawal of the amendments to the press laws and a ban on private
national and international television channels.
TOBA TEK SINGH: Journalists
here observed a black day on the call of the PFUJ to condemn the
curbs on media and closure of private TV channels through cable.
They wore black armbands.
CHAKWAL: The Divisional
Union of Journalists Rawalpindi and the Chakwal Press Club rejected
the newly promulgated Press and Publication Ordinance and demanded
its immediate withdrawal.
A resolution was passed
in the meeting of the Chakwal Press Club executive committee, which
was chaired by chairman Fahim Akhtar Butt. Secretary General Khawaja
Babar Saleem presented the resolution.
The journalists expressed
solidarity with the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ)
and vowed to struggle for the independence of press in the country.
BUREWALA: Journalists
observed black day to condemn the curbs on media. They wore black
armbands. They said the government had failed in meeting deadline
given by them to withdraw the anti-media ordinance.
KASUR: Journalists observed
black day against restrictions on private TV channels and raids
on the Jang Karachi office. They held a protest meeting that passed
a resolution, condemning a ban on the transmissions of Geo and other
private TV channels.
SAHIWAL: On the appeal
of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), journalists
staged a demonstration and wore black armbands against imposition
of the emergency. Black flags were hoisted on the press club building
at Sahiwal and Harappa.
MAILSI: Media persons
here observed black day against the imposition of emergency in the
country, a ban on private TV channels and restrictions on the press.
They wore black armbands.
A meeting of the Mailsi
Press Club was held here, with president Azizullah Shah in the chair.
It strongly condemned recent curbs on the media in the name of emergency
and amendments to the print and electronic media ordinances.
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