The journalists gathered at the protest camps set up in front of all press clubs across Pakistan and held banners carrying slogans like “Freedom of Expression: Under Threat,” and “Not scared of threats!”.

The speakers deplored that Geo News was not restored completely and all the channels of Geo family were pushed back from their original numbers on the cable. They asked the government to undo these discriminatory steps. They slammed the act of making no-go areas for Geo Television and the Jang Group newspapers and stopping the cable operators from disseminating the information provided by news channels.

A large number of journalists from print and electronic media and members of the civil and members of the civil society organisations visited the protest camps and said they would start a countrywide protest campaign on the call of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) if unannounced curbs are not lifted and no-go areas not eliminated against Geo Television and the Jang group newspapers.

PFUJ president Afzal Butt while addressing the charged and protesting journalists in front of National Press Club (NPC) said Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) is shrinking employment opportunities for the journalists by taking television channels off the air so they cannot tolerate any situation in which the people belonging to the media industry are pushed to the wall to conceal wrongdoings of the state.

He said senior journalists affiliated with the print and electronic media can play an important role in giving a constructive direction to the media industry that has been serving the nation with commitment, dedication and pride.

NPC president Shehryar Khan said the media industry always played a pivotal role in safeguarding national interests and ideological boundaries of Pakistan and it would continue to do so in the face of challenges and threats, adding “No one can question the patriotism of journalists who always prefer national interests despite facing potential threats even to their lives.”

Rawalpindi Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) president Ali Raza Alvi said the government should make all out efforts to ensure that there are no no-go areas for any newspaper or news channel because any discriminatory act can undermine the freedom of press in the country.

RIUJ secretary general Bilal Dar said, “We hope the government would rectify the affairs of Pemra that should realise the importance of freedom of press and take steps in line with rules and procedures.”

President of Punjab Union of Journalists Waseem Farooq said “Pemra should follow the rules and procedures and decisions of the courts and if it does not do so then the incumbent government must take steps against the responsible persons,” he said.

In Quetta, President of Balochistan Union of Journalists Irfan Saeed while speaking at the protest camp said there should be rule of law in the country and every state institution including Pemra should work under the law instead of taking illegal steps to cause damage media industry.

Speaking to the protesting journalists Karachi Press Club president Imtiaz Faran said they would speed up their movement in the coming days because they seem that the government is paying no heed to their demands.

The News

A large number of journalists from print and electronic media, members of the civil society, political leaders and trade union representatives visited the camp that was arranged by the Khyber Union of Journalists.

The participants of the camp chanted slogans against the discriminatory decision of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) that suspended the transmission of the most popular TV channel of the country for 15 days.

Senior journalist and President Khyber Union of Journalists Nisar Mehmood, Senior Sub Editor The News Umar Ali, Mahmood Jan Babar, Daily Jang staffer Shah ji and others were among the participants.

The speakers on the occasion rejected the curbs on the media. They ridiculed the government and other quarters concerned for their failure to apprehend those who had attacked senior journalists Hamid Mir, Zafar Aheer and torched Jang vehicles and thousands of copies of The News and Daily Jang, while they were quick in taking action against Jang Media Group for lodging complaints. They vowed to continue the token strike for the 15 days. They said if the curbs were not lifted against the organisation, they would start a countrywide protest campaign on the call of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists.

The News

Speaking at ‘Ittehad e Ummat’ conference organized by Pakistan Ulema Council, Hafiz Ashrafi said many changes are likely to take place in the region in the coming days and it is the duty of national leadership to ponder how to tackle the challenges.

He warned that sectarianism or any kind of violence among the people belonging to different schools of thought can prove detrimental to the country. He said the entire nation already stands with its armed forces which don’t need any rallies from any side to gauge the level of their support in the masses.

Ashrafi also said on May 26, a national conference on interfaith harmony and dialogue among representatives from different religions would take place in Islamabad. He said important decisions over national reconciliation and other matters would be taken during this conference.

Sahibzada Zahid Mahmood Qasmi, Secretary General of Pakistan Ulema Council, stated that by initiating dialogue among the people of different schools of thought and faiths, the council had conveyed a message loud and clear to the world that Pakistanis are peace loving people and believed in religious tolerance.

The News

The promise came as representatives of the All Pakistan Newspapers Society, Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Lahore Press Club and South Asian Free Media Association (Safma) along with print and broadcast journalists met at the South Asian Media Centre and passed a resolution.

The participants condemned the heinous attack on Hamid Mir and threats to other journalists, and the campaign launched by various quarters to harass media persons. Alarmed by increasing tension between the media and security establishment, they rejected any move to gag the media houses and journalists.

The resolution said they were encouraged by the response of the media, working journalists, civil society, political parties and international media community in solidarity with Hamid Mir and other journalists under threat.

It also expressed concerns over the rivalries among various media houses that undermined the freedom of expression and solidarity and security of the journalists’ community.Noting the concerns expressed by the ISPR about the allegations levelled by Hamid Mir’s family members and colleagues indicating the alleged suspects behind the attack, the Safma appreciated the appointment of a judicial commission by the Chief Justice of Pakistan.

It showed concerns about the current nominated structure of Pemra, which may be used to victimise one or other media groups. It called for caution and restraint from all sides to let the judicial commission and independent inquiry take its due course to a logical conclusion.

The resolution emphasised that right to life, freedom of expression, fundamental rights, accountability of all, observance of media ethics and security of journalists must be upheld and could not be compromised on any pretext whatsoever. Unity among all sections of media must be kept on issues like freedom of press/ expression and security of journalists, regardless of any kind of differences.

According to the resolution, restrictions and prohibitions on media and harassment of media persons is not to be condoned. A free media, independent judiciary, sovereign parliament and civil and political rights are the imperatives of modern-day nationhood, while civil-military and media-military relations are to be defined within the parameters of democratic values and constitutional framework.

The resolution demanded that an independent inquiry must be ensured and the judicial commission must investigate not only the Hamid Mir case but also all aspects of the conflict between media and security establishment to not only find the real culprits but also propose such measures as could ensure the security of journalists from various quarters. Findings of the judicial commission must be made public and implemented.

It further demanded that all media houses must observe media ethics and demonstrate solidarity on the issues of media freedom and security of media persons, instead of indulging in mudslinging against each other. The media must avoid casting aspersions against any segment of national institutions, while all state institutions must respect right to life and fundamental rights, including press freedom. No measures to curb press freedom will be acceptable to the media community, civil society and democratic forces.

Restraint and caution must be observed by all sides and no interference be allowed in the affairs of the media by various arms of the executive, it said, adding that media should evolve its code of ethics and observe it diligently and Pemra should be reconstituted making it a representative body.Prominent journalists including Imtiaz Alam, Hussain Naqi, Khawar Naeem Hashmi, IA Rahman and Arshad Ansari spoke on the occasion.

The News

The provincial information department of Balochistan alleged in the case that ARY News ran objectionable video clips in its current affairs programme on Aug 13, about the destruction of Quaid Azam Residency in Ziarat district following an attack in June by a separatist group.

Chief Justice of the Supreme Couryt of Pakistan Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry had taken notice of the video and asked Pemra to inform him about action taken against the channel.

The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and The Balochistan Union of Journalists (BUJ) condemned the series of attacks on freedom of press. Pervaiz Shaukat, president PFUJ said all journalists communities condemned the curbs on media and warned country-wide protests from the PFUJ.

BUJ and other media networks called for withdrawal of the case. The BUJ has decided to stage a demonstration in front of the Balochistan Assembly on August 27. Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) also announced the protest in front of Karachi Press Club same day.

Pakistan Press Foundation