Islamabad – As many as four committees have been set up to make effective contacts with political parties, civil society organisations, trade unions and journalist organisations to ensure all out participation in protest sit-ins of the journalists in front of national and all provincial assemblies on December 8 against non-provision of security to the media houses by the incumbent government.

The committees were formed in a joint meeting of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), National Press Club (NPC) and Rawalpindi Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ). Under the chairmanship of PFUJ president Afzal Butt, the meeting was held to review arrangements for the protest sit-in that would continue till the government takes measures to provide foolproof security to all media houses in the country.

The members of the committee would personally contact and meet the politicians, members of the civil society organisations and representatives of the trade unions and would invite them to the protest sit-ins aiming at pushing the government to honor its pledges to provide security to journalists working across the country.

The participants of the meeting were of the view that if the government failed to show its seriousness, journalists would be forced to extend the circle of their protest in each and every nook of the country.

They opined that journalists and the media houses were being targeted and it was responsibility of the government to provide peace and protection to every person of the country, including journalists.

Speaking on the occasion, PFUJ President Afzal Butt said that the journalists would stage sit-in in front of the national and provincial assemblies on December 8 against increased attacks on the media houses across the country.

“The government had promised foolproof security to the media houses after the launch of National Action Plan (NAP) because the media has been playing a vital role in the ongoing war on terror,” he said.

He said, “The journalists are pursuing their professional duties in the face of threats by the terrorists and other anti-state elements but the government never ever bothered to think about their security.”

The PFUJ president said that it was quite unfortunate that the terrorists targeted the journalists and the media houses and were often not arrested due to weaknesses in the police system.

“We will not end our protest sit-in unless the government will take effective measures to honour its pledge to provide foolproof security to media houses.”

RIUJ President Ali Raza Alvi said that the irresponsible behaviour of the government had forced the journalists to raise voice for their protection, adding, “The journalists have been rendering sacrifices especially in the war on terror and they are still on the frontline.” RIUJ General Secretary Bilal Dar said that the committees formed in the meeting would make contacts with political parties and representatives of the civil society organisations and trade unions for a peaceful protest in front of the national and provincial assemblies.

The News

Talking to a delegation of Pakistan Federation of Union of Journalists (PFUJ) at his residence in Bani Gala, he said the government tried to offer hefty amounts to journalists but the journalists turned down the offer and expressed impartiality.

He said that media is the fourth pillar of the state. He appreciated role of PFUJ in the struggle for sustainability of democracy in the country. PFUJ President Afzal Butt led the delegation comprising Syed Bukhar Shah, National Press Club Secretary Tariq Chaudhry, PFUJ members Ryaz Khan, Qurban Satti, RIUJ General Secreatry Bilal Dar and others.

Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Shafqat Mehmood, Dr Sheeren Mazari and others accompanied Imran during the talks. Afzal Butt made it clear to PTI central leadership that allegations like journalists are salable commodity in public gatherings hurt journalists and are baseless. He said if the PTI has proof, it should come up in public and names of salable journalists should be exposed.

The News

The President of Federal Union of Journalists, Afzal Butt, and Secretary of the PFUJ, Khurshid Abbasi, condemned the incident and said that the union would observe three days of mourning. They said that a delegation of the PFUJ would meet the IGP of Sindh soon.

The News

“I ask my party workers to show regard for all media workers, including those of Geo News, because my party believes in the freedom of expression. I would like to evolve a mechanism to stop the attacks on media workers during the coverage of sit-ins,” he said during a meeting with a three-member delegation of media persons headed by President Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) Afzal Butt.

The delegation also included General Secretary of the National Press Club (NPC) Tariq Chaudhry, Finance Secretary Waqar Satti and General Secretary of Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) Bilal Dar.

PTI MNAs Shafqat Mehmood and Asad Umar and in-charge of PTI Media Cell Chaudhry Rizwan were also present on the occasion.

Imran Khan said they would set up a separate desk at the D-Chowk and form a special committee that would provide full protection to media workers.

Since the start of the two sit-ins, the Geo staff has come under attack a number of times. A woman reporter, Farhat Javed, covering the Dharna was attacked with empty bottles and other staff was also harassed.

The mike of a Geo reporter was snatched and other staff members were also intimidated. Repeated attacks on Geo News clearly show that the anti-government demonstrators are intolerant of media’s role in reporting these events and are resorting to unjustifiable undemocratic acts.

Imran Khan also asked why the police were not protecting the Geo News premises as more than 30,000 cops had been deployed in the capital to maintain law and order.

“I think someone else is involved in attacks on Geo News to defame the PTI in the eyes of the public.”

The PTI chief said he would visit the NPC and show solidarity with the media workers because he strongly believed that a strong media could guarantee a strong Pakistan.

The News

President Balochistan Union of Journalists Irfan Saeed, President Quetta Press Club Razaur Rehman, Vice President PFUJ Saleem and others were also present.Afzal But said for the first time in the history of Pakistan press clubs in all the four provinces were locked on the appeal of BUJ and journalists protested but the rulers took no notice.

“There are delaying tactics in the arrest of killers of these journalists. The PFUJ is planning protest in Quetta. If their killers are not arrested within one week ‘chalo chalo Balochistan ki taraf chalo” movement would be launched in which journalists from all over the country would participate and stage sit-ins till the arrest of killers.”

He said the PFUJ had staged dharnas in front of four provincial assemblies and the National Assembly a few months ago. “Our biggest demand is security for all media group offices and journalists should be given security forces protocol on their martyrdom.”

He said the speaker National Assembly and the chief ministers of four provinces had promised the protesting journalists to security and payment of compensation to their relatives on the pattern of the security forces relatives.

“We are tired of lifting the bodies of our colleagues; target killing of Irshad Mastoi and his colleagues is a big tragedy. The federal and provincial governments are responsible for it,” Afzal Butt said.

President PFUJ would lead a protest rally here on Monday (today). The rally would originate from press club and reach in front of Balochistan Assembly Secretariat where a human chain would be formed. Political parties, civil society representatives and journalists have been requested to participate.

The News

According to a press release issued Wednesday, the CPPC meeting called for unity among different factions of PFUJ, one led by Rana Azeem, one led by Idrees Bakhtiar and one by Afzal Butt for the cause of journalism and the journalist community at large. The meeting was attended by CPPC central convener and Lahore Press Club President Arshad Ansari, National Press Club President Farooq Faisal Khan, Karachi Press Club President Imtiaz Khan Faran, Skardu Press Club President Nisar Abbas, Quetta Press Club Vice President Muhammad Ajmal, Central Press Club Azad Kashmir Secretary Tahir Ahmed Farooqi and Raja Waseem.

The participants of the meeting stressed the need that all the three groups of PFUJ should have to get united at one platform to fight with all the challenges faced by journalist community and media including conspiracies against independent media, freedom of expression, suspension of channels, hurdles in distribution of newspapers, implementation of wage board award etc.

The News

Girl strangled to death: LHC seeks detailed report

The Lahore High Court here on Wednesday taking notice of strangling a girl to death by her two elder brothers and the brother-in-law for marrying a person of her choice directed District & Sessions Judge Sahiwal to look into the matter and submit detailed report within a week. According to details, 21-year-old Allah Mafi, and a Baloch youth, Anser, of her own village ran from their houses and contracted a court marriage in Sahiwal.

Business Recorder

http://www.brecorder.com/general-news/172:pakistan/1200796:girl-strangled-to-death-lhc-seeks-detailed-report/?date=2014-07-10

Chanting slogans against Pemra and cable operators that are making mockery of the court orders, journalists continued their sit-in at the protest camps to give message to the incumbent government that it cannot defeat their commitment and dedication towards the supreme cause of protection of independence of press in the country.

The media persons pointed out that shutting down and pushing Geo News to the last numbers by the cable operators was a violation of Pemra rules but unfortunately the government was yet to take measures to rectify the situation that was depriving the viewers of their favourite channel.

They made an appeal to the viewers that if cable operators never restored all channels including Geo News to their original numbers then they would not pay their monthly bills as a protest against this illegal practice.

The protest camps have been set up in front of press clubs in various cities including Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Sukkur, Hyderabad, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Larkana, Abbottabad, Muzaffarabad, Rahimyar Khan, Bahawalpur and Multan.

Addressing at the protest camp in front of National Press Club (NPC) Islamabad, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) president Afzal Butt said they would renew their commitment to the cause of freedom of press on July 5 as this day would be observed as a Black Day to pay tribute to the sacrifices of journalists who were flogged on May 13, 1978 including Masoodullah Khan, Nasir Zaidi, Khawar Naeem and Iqbal Jafferi.

He said journalists have a long history of sacrifices so the government should avoid adopting delaying tactics and accept their demands otherwise their protest movement for protection of freedom of press would continue till achievement of the set targets.

Senior journalist Nasir Zaidi said Geo News has completed its 15-day sentence then how can the cable operators block its transmission in violation of rules and procedures. “I ask the government whether it has any authority on Pemra and cable operators or both of them are free to do whatever they want,” he said.

Rawalpindi Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) president Ali Raza Alvi said they would file a petition against Pemra and cable operators in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) as it was contempt of court to block transmission of Geo News and ARY Television despite the court orders for their restoration on the cable networks.

He called upon media persons to discharge their duties honestly by playing a positive role to point out irregularities within state institutions and provide direction to society.NPC president Shehryar Khan said tyrants and dictatorial rulers had always tried to curtail the freedom of the press so the present government should avoid following in their footsteps and look into the affairs of Pemra that is behaving like a “bull in the China shop”.

“I salute the journalists who always continue to carry out their professional duties despite facing hardships and even potential threats from various segments. The government can never ever defeat the resolve of committed journalists so it should immediately accept our demands otherwise our protest movement would move forward with more vigour and dedication,” he said.

Multan Press Club president Rauf Maan while addressing the protesting journalists in Multan said the government should prove that it believes in freedom of press and take effective measures to end discrimination towards some media houses especially Jang Group otherwise the journalists would put in all out efforts to protect their independence and freedom of speech.

Sukkur Press Club president Lala Asad Pathan said the history guides them that no government wants to give freedom of press because the rulers think it advisable to mute the voice of media to conceal their wrongdoings, adding, “We have achieved freedom of press through sacrifices and we would not hesitate to render more sacrifices for its protection.”

Our Sukkur correspondent adds: Unions of journalists in Sukkur, Khairpur, Shikarpur, Nausharoferoz, Ghotki and some other cities in Sindh took out protest rallies against non-restoration of Geo News transmission.

A protest rally, led by President of Sukkur Press Club, Lala Asad Pathan, and Jan Muhammad Mahar, President of Sukkur Union of Journalists, was taken out in Sukkur. The rally terminated at the Sukkur Press Club where leaders of journalists’ organizations addressed a sit-in and said that Pemra had illegally suspended the licence of Geo News.

They said that Pemra attempted to create anarchy in Pakistan by suspending the transmission of the channel.They also condemned torturing of journalists in Lahore by the police.They said that such orders of Pemra had been affecting thousands of employees of the news channel.They demanded restoration of Geo News transmission immediately. They also condemned the attack on Imdad Soomro, a reporter of Jang Group, by unidentified accused.

The News

They were speaking at a seminar on “Youm-e-Azm” organised by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) at the National Press Club to reiterate their resolve and acknowledge the sacrifices of journalists for the freedom of expression during the Zia regime.

Four journalists — Nasir Zaidi, Khawar Hashmi, Iqbal Jafri and Masoodullah Khan — were flogged on May 13, 1978 during Ziaul Haq’s despotic regime for protesting against censorship and in favour of freedom of expression.

The speakers said they will not become party to the current media-state institutions conflict, but will not allow anyone to curb freedom of expression either.

Journalists’ representatives said that they will welcome any solution to the current crisis.

Opposition leader in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah paid tribute to working journalists, lawyers, workers and peasants who stood against the atrocities of the military dictator and struggled for restoration of democracy and freedom of the press. Their commitment to their cause and bravery against the policies of the dictator was unprecedented, he said.

While addressing the gathering, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Javed Hashmi acknowledged the role of security agencies and the media in defending the country and society against internal and external threats. He stressed the need for harmony and understanding among state institutions and urged them to function within their constitutional limits.

Pakistan People’s Party Senator Raza Rabbani said Zia’s era was the darkest chapter of our history. “Sectarianism, intolerance, and drug culture are the gifts of Zia regime” he said.

He salutes the journalists, and the 82,000 political workers who were subjected to torture and jailed for raising their voices for democracy and freedom. There is a need to unite against the forces that are trying to derail democracy. He said that it was quite regrettable that we had failed to transfer our legacy to coming generations. He added that strong institutions are imperative for the safety of journalists.

Earlier, PFUJ President Afzal Butt vowed that the journalists would continue their struggle for making the state institutions strong and render sacrifices for the freedom of expression.

Others speakers included Senator Mushahid Hussain and Aitzaz Ahsan.

They were also of the view that we should make efforts for the freedom of expression, justice and democracy in the country. They said that some elements were trying to derail democracy in the country but we would not let it happen.

The speakers also highlighted the problems confronted by journalists. They said that journalists should not be left at the mercy of influential persons and groups. There is a dire need to address their economic problems. Steps should also be taken to ensure the safety of journalists.

In the end, Nasir Zaidi and Iqbal Jafri were garlanded in appreciation of their services for freedom of expression.

Express Tribune

ISLAMABAD: Welcoming the court decision in Wali Khan Babar murder case, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) Saturday announced to observe March 4 as the countrywide solidarity day with the family of the late Geo reporter.

The statement says PFUJ welcomes the court decision and announces March 4 as the solidarity day with the family of Wali Khan Babar who was killed by terrorists in 2011.

An anti-terrorist court announced death penalty for two absconding culprits while four culprits in jail have been awarded life imprisonment.

President PFUJ Afzal Butt has welcomed the court decision and termed it a good omen for the media community as more than 110 journalists have been killed in Pakistan but this was the first time that a judgment had been announced in a case. He said Babar’s family believes a political party is behind the murder.

The News

SYED ALI SHAH

QUETTA: Journalists have threatened to lay siege of the National Assembly and all provincial assemblies, if political parties failed to put forward legislation protecting the lives and jobs of media men in Pakistan before March 20 this year.

The announcement was made by president Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), Afzal Butt while addressing a seminar with regard to threats made against the media in Balochistan on Sunday evening.

According to Balochistan Union of Journalists more than 30 journalists were killed in the insurgency-hit province during the last seven years.

“We will mount pressure on the rulers to protect the media in Balochistan,” Butt said.

Besides journalists, Baloch political leaders, Pashtun nationalists and religious parties also expressed concern over the killing of journalists across the province.

“We will move a resolution in Balochistan assembly to ensure protection of the journalist community,” Rasheed Nasar, the central leader of Awami National Party (ANP) said.

Leaders of National Party, Balochistan National Party, Hazara Democratic Party, JUI (F), JUI (Idealogical) and other political parties also assured that they would support a resolution in the Balochistan Assembly protecting the lives and jobs of journalists.

“We will agitate in and outside the assembly for the protection of journalists,” Agha Hassan Baloch, the Central Secretary Information BNP said.

The speakers strongly criticised law enforcement agencies for their failure to arrest culprits involved in the killing of journalists.

“Impunity to killers appears to be a contributing factor regarding the increase in killings,” Shehzada Zulfiqar, a senior journalist said.

The speakers termed formation of a judicial commission to probe into the murder of over 30 journalists as a positive stride.

“We want protection of lives,” Irfan Saeed, the President Balochistan Union of Journalists said.

Khudai Noor Nasar, the reporter of Europe-based Mashaal Radio however said that all state and non-state actors want the media to follow their instructions.

“They want us to toe their line, whether fair or unfair,” Nasar stated.

The speakers lamented that during last few years 110 journalists were killed in different parts of Pakistan.

“The law enforcers were only able to arrest the killers of US journalist Daniel Pearl,” Afzal Butt said.

The journalist leaders demanded the provincial and federal governments stop paying lip service and take practical steps for protecting the lives of media persons.

Dawn