LAHORE: A large number of journalists, lawyers, representatives of the Awami Party, Wapda Workers Union and people from all walks of life on Thursday staged a protest demonstration under the banner of Jang Workers Union CBA outside the Jang/Geo offices on Davis Road, in favour of the Jang Group and Geo channel.
The participants vowed that they would not allow anyone to ban Jang/Geo at any pretext and at any cost. They said every effort would be made to maintain independence of media. They said the independent media was the saviour of democracy in the country, adding that lawyers, civil society and media were ready to play the same role they did in the movement for restoration of judges.
Among those who participated in the protest demonstration included senior journalists Bedar Bakhat Butt, Maqsood Butt, Khawar Naeem Hashmi, Sohail Warraich, Naseem Qureshi, Zahid Ali Khan, Asim Naseer, Waheed Butt, Rukhsana Nazli, Babar Waseem, Feeroz Rubaba Advocate, Safdar Iqbal Advocate, Arif Gondal Advocate, Nasir Jalib, Sohaib Marghoob, Umme Farwa, Imtiaz Arshad, Irfan Ashraf, etc. Paying tribute to senior anchorperson Hamid Mir, the participants said it was highly condemnable that 20 days had been passed but the culprits were still at large.
Carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans in favour of Jang/Geo, they said Hamid Mir and Jang/Geo had fought for independence of media in the country and no compromise would be made on this independence. They said at this crucial time, the journalist community would stand with Hamid Mir and Jang/Geo.
According to them, as Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had categorically stated that nobody would ban Jang/Geo and if any such effort was made they would resist the same with strong protest. They said the Jang Group had played a vital role in strengthening media and restoration of democracy in the country and would continue expressing their right to freedom in future as well. They said if speaking the truth was treason in this country then all journalists of Pakistan Movement including Maulana Muhammad Ali Johar should also be included in that category. They said all the journalist community was united and ready to foil every attack on the independence of media with full force.