KARACHI: The central office of the Geo and Jang Media Group was attacked on Sunday by protesters in Karachi.

A mob broke a walkthrough gate installed at the entrance of the building as well as the main entrance door to the building. The staff inside the building were also attacked and violently pushed around.

According to Geo News Karachi Bureau Chief Faheem Siddiqui, protesters attacked the building “under an elaborate plot”. He said a protest had been announced in advance but “there were no law enforcement officers present” and no action was taken against the protesters when they attacked. The protesters were enraged over a video from a Geo News programme on social media, the edited version of which has gone viral, said Siddiqui. “What you see on social media is not how it was said on the show,” he said, adding that Geo News had also aired a clarification as well as an apology on the same show. “What remains to be known is who these protesters are,” he added. Anchor Irshad Bhatti from television show “Khabarnaak” clarified that his show is of comedy and satire and “Sindh and Sindhis are part of his identity as is any other province.”

“Ladies and gentleman, welcome. I wish to state here, that in the last one or two shows, our brothers from Sindh, where on the one hand showed us a lot of appreciation and gave us a lot of love, on the other hand, expressed reservations against a sentence or two.

“I wish to tell everyone this is a programme of satire and comedy, and the way Punjab, KP, Balochistan, GB, Azad Kashmir are dear to me, Sindh and Sindhis are a part of my identity. My life is dedicated to Sindh and Sindhis,” he said.

Managing Director Geo News Azhar Abbas, sharing footage of the damage left in the wake of the attack, wrote: “Everyone has right to peaceful protest. We will protect and support that right. But doing violence and taking the law into their own hands, regardless of the cause, can’t be tolerated. Dialogue is answer to all issues — not violence.”

Sindh Information Minister Nasir Hussain Shah arrived at the venue and proceeded to resolve the matter by speaking to the protesters. He had earlier also appeared on air to express solidarity with the media group. When asked why police did not act promptly, Shah said he strongly condemns such violence. “I spoke to the SSP and I was told the protest was to head from Shaheen Complex to Press Club but they came this way.” He said everyone has a right to protest but no one has the right to harm anyone. “Action will be taken against whoever took the law into their hands.” The information minister said that Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah has also ordered “strict action” to be taken against all those found involved.

Federal Minister for Information Shibli Faraz, speaking to Geo News, said that violence is not acceptable under any circumstances. “If someone has any grievance or reservations, they always have the choice to launch a formal protest […] I have found out that the matter pertains to a show where some light humour was aired. The immediate responsibility is that of the Sindh government […] why were no security forces available?” he asked.

Governor Sindh Imran Ismail said it was an unfortunate incident that had occurred and expressed his sympathies. “We must understand people’s sensitivities while airing things on our channels. Something occurred that hurt people’s sentiments. As far as I know, an apology and clarification were given by Geo, so this matter should have been let go of. “They could have still protested peacefully with banners, but violence can never be supported. So to all those protesting outside, I request: Please accept Geo’s apology and clarification. Forgive whatever transpired. This goes completely against the hospitality and love for people that are part and parcel of Sindh’s values and culture,” Imran said. The governor was surprised to know police had not sprung into action. He said he would ask the Inspector General of Police to look into the matter immediately and to send officers for the staff’s protection.

Minister for Interior Sheikh Rasheed condemned the attack on Geo News’ building and termed it a “cowardly act”. “The government fully believes in freedom of the press,” Rasheed said, adding: “I hope Sindh government will ensure the security of the Jang, Geo office.” He said his ministry will extend all possible support.

Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry also condemned the attack and demanded that police take action against those responsible. “A disagreement does not mean you round up 200-400 people and attack a place,” he said.

Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar strongly condemned the attack, terming it as an attack on freedom of expression. He also expressed solidarity with Geo and Jang, a handout said. Buzdar said the incumbent government believes in the freedom of media.

PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb, condemning the incident, said it must be probed in a transparent and unbiased manner. “We express our solidarity with Geo News,” she said. PPP MPA Awais Qadir Shah said that it was highly condemnable that an attack was carried out under the pretext of a protest. “This is a highly unfortunate incident which cannot be condemned enough,” he said. Shah said that the People’s Party supports freedom of expression and a fair investigation of the incident. Qaumi Watan Party spokesperson Ahmed Jadoon, condemning the attack, said that elements involved should be brought to justice. PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat and Speaker Punjab Assembly Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi also condemned the violence. MQM convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui it was wholly unacceptable that a media house be attacked in such a manner under the guise of a protest. He said that the absence of police officers at the time of the attack raises a lot of questions.

The Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors (AEMEND) issued a statement strongly condemning the violent attack on the Karachi offices of Geo News “by a mob armed with clubs and stones”.

“AEMEND believes in people’s inalienable right to peaceful protest but using violence under the pretext of protest is unacceptable and is a clear violation of law,” read the statement. The association urged the provincial government to “take immediate action” against who vandalised the media office and subjected its staff to violence.

The APNS strongly condemned the attack on the Jang Group premises by demonstrators, who ranscked the offices and manhandled the employees of the group. Hameed Haroon, President, and Sarmad Ali, Secretary General, of the All Pakistan Newspapers Society, in a press statement termed the incident attack on the press and expressed their serious concern on the vandalism perpetuated by the demonstrators, who in the garb of protest and sit-in besieged the Jang Group’s main office in Karachi and instead of stressing and raising their demands, attacked and ransacked the office and harassed the staff, including female workers and journalists. They stated that every section of the society has a right to agitate its disagreement against any content, but it should not be allowed to take law into its hand and attack the premises of media organisations and intimidate media workers. This attitude not only depicts the intolerance exacerbating in our society but also highlights growing lawlessness in the country. It is regrettable that the law enforcing agencies in the city remained silent spectators when the media house was being subjected to vandalism.

The APNS office bearers urged upon the chief minister Sindh and the IG police to take immediate action against the culprits and provide security to media houses to prevent such heinious act against the media in future. Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists has condemned the attack on Geo and Jang offices demanding of the government to arrest the perpetrators.

In a statement, PFUJ President Shahzada Zulfiqar and Secretary General Nasir Zaidi slammed the police and Sindh government for the lack of action against the attackers. “It is unfortunate that the police were present there but they did not prevent the attackers. The police turned a blind eye as the mob ransacked the office besides beating up the staff.” They asked the government to throughly probe the attack. This is not an attack of Geo and Jang but on the freedom of expression.

The PPP being the champion of democracy and freedom of expression should take prompt action against the attackers besides ensuring that such incidents do not happen in the future.”Zulfiqar and Zaidi said that the media has already been under siege for some years. “In these testing times, media need support from political parties and various circles of the society. If any party or community has complaint against any content, then there is a mechanism to lodge a complaint and get the matter sorted out but the attackers resorted to fascist tactics to vent their anger.” The PFUJ leaders said that they expressed complete solidarity with the Geo and Jang. “We cannot leave the workers of Jang Group alone in these testing times and would like to make it very clear that the entire journalist community is behind the workers of this media outlet.”

Meanwhile, Sindh Information and Local Government Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah has condemned the incident of hooliganism and vandalism at the offices of the Jang Group and Geo Television in Karachi on Sunday.Talking to media persons outside the Jang and Geo TV offices after the attack on Sunday, the Sindh information minister said that strict action would be taken against whosoever was found involved in the incident.

He clarified that a peaceful protest was the right of every person. He said that one was supposed to do peaceful protest against any offensive or insulting statement. He mentioned that the Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah had taken cognizance of the incident. He announced that the Sindh government would compensate for the losses caused due to vandalism.

He said lawful action would be taken against the miscreants involved in the incidents in view of the CCTV camera footage of the incident, adding that action would be taken against the attackers as per the demand of Geo TV.

He said the Sindhi nation did carry historical importance as they would not let anyone to insult the Sindhi nation or the land of Sindh. “If anyone carries any such impression, then he should get rid of it,” said the Sindh minister.

He said that an entire institution could not be held responsible for the act of an individual. He mentioned that the Geo TV had instantly apologized for the remarks after they went on-air.

He appealed to the protesters doing protest against the remarks to end their agitation. Meanwhile, Sindh Law and Environment Adviser Barrister Murtaza Wahab, who also acts as the spokesman for the Sindh government, said that the Sindh CM had ordered a probe into the incident of attack on the offices of Jang Group and Geo TV.

While condemning the incident, he said that due action would be taken against the attackers for bringing them to justice.

Barrister Wahab said that the security of the offices of Jang Group and Geo TV and that of other media houses would be improved by the Sindh government. Meanwhile, Sindh Minister Jam Ikramullah Dharejo, Mukesh Kumar Chawla, Shehla Raza, and Special Assistant to Sindh CM Syed Qasim Naveed Qamar also condemned the attack on Jang and Geo TV offices. The provincial cabinet members said that the Sindh government always stood for protecting the freedom of expression and media institutions would be given protection in this regard. Sindh Minister for Education Saeed Ghani also condemned the attack on the Geo and Jang office on Sunday and said the PPP believed in the freedom of expression and press. He added that the Sindh chief minister had assured action against the attackers.

Newspapers: Daily Dawn, The News, Business Recorder, Pakistan Today

Karachi: Following a grenade attack at the office of a private television channel in Islamabad, Sindh IGP Ghulam Hyder Jamali issued directives on Thursday to ensure extraordinary security measures for the protection of offices of electronic and print media outlets, their staff and journalists.

According to a statement issued by the Sindh Police, the IGP has issued directives to ensure security for journalists, cameramen, photographers and other media workers in the province. He instructed that police mobiles and motorcycles should enhance patrolling in the areas where media houses are located. The IGP said security should be maintained to protect the lives of citizens and a report should be submitted on daily basis.

Safety of journalists remains a concern in Karachi as several attacks were witnessed over the past year as well. These included a two-day spree in September that claimed the life of a Geo News satellite engineer when one of the channel’s DSNG vans came under attack in Bahadurabad. The van driver had also suffered injuries in the attack.

A day later, a senior journalist, Aftab Alam, was fatally targeted in the city, and later that same month, another TV channel’s DSNG van was attacked, though no injuries were reported.

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In a statement issued here on Saturday, Munawar said the media was the forth pillar of the State, adding that blocking people’s access to information was a crime. He said Geo News transmission should be restored to its previous numbers by the cable operators who should honour the public will.

The PPP leader also stated that it was mandatory on all the segments of society, including politicians, human right activists, religious leaders and scholars, to expose the elements conspiring against media freedom and weakening democracy and the Federation. He said the Constitution and democracy could only be protected once media was free. By imposing curbs on the media, these elements were not only curbing the media freedom but also playing a role in the economic murder of thousands of journalists, he added.

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“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.

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“The recognition of Mr Khan is a symbol of the struggle for the right to information and a reminder to the international community about the tragic conditions Pakistan has been suffering since the war on terror began following the 9/11 attacks,” said RMNP president Ehsan Ahmed Sehar in an address to journalists and local dignitaries, says a press release on Thursday.

Malik Mumtaz Khan, 48, was based in Miranshah, North Waziristan, in the Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (Fata) when he was shot dead on 27th February, 2013. Malik Mumtaz was on his way home when he was gunned down by unidentified men waiting in a vehicle with tinted windows, the kind widely used by militants in the region.

Malik Mumtaz was associated with Khyber Television, Geo News and Jang Group of Newspapers and had over 20 years experience in journalism. He was also president of the Miranshah Press Club. Colleagues reported that he had received a number of threats prior to his murder, yet no group has so far claimed responsibility for his death. He leaves behind a widow, two sons and a daughter.

Recognising Malik Mumtaz Khan’s courage and dedication to the profession, an award of Rs60,000 was presented to his son Mohammad Suleman Khan, who revealed that despite promises from the Pakistani authorities his father’s killers had not been brought to justice and his family was still awaiting compensation.

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The IFJ has also called for apologies from the Pakistani politicians and government after an horrific week of media-targeted violence. In ongoing demonstrations organized by PTI and PAT against the government, the IFJ has also noted that both the state and the opposition directly targeted journalists and media workers in a concerning series of retaliations against media workers who were attempting to report on the protests.

Pakistan’s police forces directly attacked the media including journalists and staff from ARY News, News One, AbbTakk News, Dunya TV, Dawan News and JAAG TV at one of the demonstrations on August 30.

Several media workers were injured during the police onslaught. Police were also engaged in manhandling journalists, pulling out camera operators and other media workers from DSNG vans and beating them with batons. Police also smashed cameras and DSNG vans of several channels as well as journalists’ vehicles.

In his letter to Nawaz Sharif, IFJ President, Jim Boumelha, said the aggressive behaviour of security forces was “totally unacceptable” and “grossly violated the media’s rights to report and the citizens’ right of information, as expressed explicitly in Pakistan’s constitution”.

Security forces also failed to intervene for the safety of journalists on a number of occasions when the demonstrations showed intolerance towards the media, Mr Boumelha said.

The IFJ has called the leaders of PTI and PAT to account saying: “At the time, when they have to bear the attacks from unknown groups, it is extremely worrying that even responsible political parties and the state’s security agencies assault media and journalists”.

On September 1, over 800 PTI and PAT protesters stormed the PTV building in the early afternoon, holding a number of staff hostage and forcing management to shut down the transmission of PTV News and PTV World. They also stole weapons from security guards manning the building and damaged a number of PTV vehicles. There have also been reports of violence and manhandling against PTV staff.

On August 30, anti-government demonstrators attacked the office of Pakistan’s leading TV channel Geo News in Islamabad. Protesters were on a march toward the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s House, when the crowd of angry demonstrators gathered outside the Geo News office, pelting it with stones. Some stick-wielding protestors reportedly also attacked the satellite van of Geo News as the staff in the building struggled to escape. No one was hurt in the incident but the building was damaged in the onslaught.

Similarly, journalists of Geo TV were forced to leave the venue of sit-in protest after he was abused and his microphone was snatched away. Journalists were among media workers who locked themselves in the Digital Satellite News Gathering (DSNG) van after PTI / PAT cadres started kicking on the van and warned to leave within minutes on August 15. On August 16 also, journalists were attacked again and forced to flee the rally venue.

Mr Boumelha said in his letters to PTI and PAT: “As political parties aspiring for democratic rule in Pakistan, your commitment to democratic values, human rights, and the freedom of expression should be unconditional and demonstrative.”

The IFJ reminds Pakistan’s leaders and opposition that democracy cannot prosper without vibrant media giving platform to pluralistic opinions.

International Federation of Journalists

It comes after some violent retaliation to journalists by the cadres of the Pakistan Tehrek-e-Insaf (PTI) party during their political rally last weekend. On the first two days of the rally, as many as eight journalists and media workers were targeted.

According to reports, Azaz Syed of Geo TV was forced to leave the venue after he was abused and his microphone was snatched away. Journalists Arshad Waheed and Farhat Jabeen were among media workers who locked themselves in the Digital Satellite News Gathering (DSNG) van after cadres started kicking on the van and warned to leave within minutes on Friday, August 15.

On Saturday, August 16, Arshad and Saif-ur-Rehman were attacked and forced to flee the rally venue; and cameraman Shabbir Ahmed’s camera was broken. The PTI chairman Imran Khan, in a public speech, also accused Jang Group newspapers of propaganda against him – a move that the IFJ said could in effect escalate violence against journalists in the current environment.

The IFJ and the PFUJ call on the media to remain vigilant about safety of journalists and media workers. The PFUJ issued an advisory to journalists covering ongoing political movements in Islamabad to perform their duties in a safe way.

Although, the PTI later condemned attacks on journalists and assured that such incidents would not be repeated, the IFJ and the PFUJ urges journalists to remain cautious and prioritise safety.

The PFUJ said in a statement: “Journalists should do his duty with full responsibility but keep the safety priority as well. The duty has always been our prime responsibility but one should be careful and keep personal security in mind as well.”

The IFJ urges Pakistani journalists to follow the IFJ Safety Guidelines. Initiates file downloadDownload Here.

The IFJ Asia-Pacific Acting Director, Jane Worthington, said: “Pakistani journalists have long been working in one of the most hostile working environments for media. Attacks on journalists while they are merely performing duties is a condemnable act and the political parties should understand that holding different opinions is the beauty of democracy and free press should be allowed to report independently without biases.”

International Federation of Journalists

Talking to the media after a function at the National College of Arts (NCA) here, the minister said Geo News was awarded punishment by Pemra for a mistake; it faced the punishment and paid the fine. Now the matter should come to an end and we should move forward, the minister added.

He promised that Geo News will appear on its original numbers on cable very soon. The government is taking legal steps for the purpose and the courts are also taking measures in this regard, he said.

The minister said the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) had never been, and it would never be, party to any move against the Constitution and the law.About the statement of former prime minister Yusuf Raza Gilani regarding a deal with Pervez Musharraf, the minister said PPP leaders were divided over the issue, while the former president himself had denied making any deal.

The minister said statements about a safe exit for Musharraf by the PPP leaders were contradictory. The PML-N had already made its stance clear and, therefore, the debate on the issue should come to an end now.

Pervaiz Rashid said terrorists had taken the people of Waziristan hostage in their houses for the last 13 to 14 years, but the government would not rest until these people were rehabilitated in their homes in an environment free from terrorism. The information minister said governments had always fulfilled the needs of the defence forces and the people had always offered sacrifices to make the country’s defence strong.

Regarding the situation in Gaza, he said whenever there had been any instance of brutality in any part of the world, the PML-N government had taken a principled stand on the issue. He said the Palestinian ambassador has appreciated Pakistan’s stance and thanked Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for the moral support Pakistan has extended to the Palestinians.

To a question, he said India’s defence spending had never been conservative and this was not a special instance. He said the people of Pakistan are brave and the government has everything in perspective, therefore there is no need to worry.

About Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s threat that if the government tries to sabotage the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s August 14 rally it may create a situation similar to the Model Town Lahore tragedy, he said he was at loss to understand how Shah Mehmood could foresee the future and predict that the government was planning any such activity. He said such statements which incite and encourage mob violence should not be issued at all.

About the martyrdom of three Pakistani soldiers, including a Captain, by Afghan forces’ firing, he said the matter had been taken up with the Afghan authorities and there would be no compromise on such issues and they would be sorted out through proper political channels.

APP adds: Pervaiz Rashid said it was a great achievement of the PML-N government that it had got the power generation machinery installed in only seven months. That machinery had been rusting at ports for the past seven years due to the negligence of the previous governments. The plant would start production with full capacity shortly, he added.

He said the government would explore all possible avenues to get cheap electricity for the people, adding that electricity could be purchased from some Central Asian States to meet the country’s needs.

To another question, the minister said: “The armed forces have been doing the rescue work in North Waziristan and soon people would return to their homes safe and sound.” Pervaiz Rashid said it was unfortunate that some elements were talking of revolution and revolt at a time when the armed forces were engaged in a military operation to purge the country of terrorists in the North Waziristan.

“These people want to create hurdles to the ongoing military operation in North Waziristan through their so-called revolution propaganda,” the minister said.Earlier, the minister inaugurated a painting exhibition at the Zahoorul Akhlaq Gallery at the NCA.

Addressing students, the minister said educational institutions like the NCA should be promoted in the country as these institutions promote peace and love through their artwork in the hearts and minds of the people.

He urged the need to change the mindset of the future generations through the message of art and culture against violence. The minister also gave away certificates to students whose artworks had been displayed at the exhibition.

The News

Your Excellency:

We are writing to express our deep concern about the deteriorating climate for press freedom in Pakistan, which undermines recent commitments made by your government during CPJ’s mission to the country.

In our meeting with you on March 19, you told us you recognized the scope of the crisis that journalists face in Pakistan and the damage that the country’s record of impunity in journalist murders has done to its international reputation. We were encouraged by the exchange and follow-up we had with you and other Pakistani officials.

We urge you to follow your pledges to address media freedoms with meaningful action. A joint government-media commission to review anti-press attacks and improve security, such as the one you pledged to create, would be a great step toward improving the climate for press freedom in Pakistan.

Since our meetings, conditions for journalists working in Pakistan have drastically deteriorated. Only days after we met, unidentified gunmen fired on the car of Raza Rumi, a senior Pakistani journalist, as he was leaving the studio following his TV show. Rumi was not injured, but his driver was killed.

In April, gunmen shot Geo News senior anchor Hamid Mir as he and his driver left Karachi’s main airport. Mir survived the attack but sustained wounds to his abdomen and pelvis. His driver survived. The next month, two foreign journalists were expelled from the country after being told their visas would not be renewed. The Hindu correspondent Meena Menon and Snehesh Alex Philip, correspondent for the Press Trust of India, left Pakistan within seven days.

On May 20, some members of Pakistan’s Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) announced that licenses for Geo News, Geo Entertainment, and Geo Tez, channels under the Geo TV Network, had been suspended. Later that day, PEMRA issued a press release saying the order had “no legal standing” since the meeting had been attended by only five of its 12 members.

On June 3, Zafar Aheer, an editor of the Urdu-language Daily Jang, was beaten by six armed men as he was returning home from work. The assailants confiscated his phone and fired shots around his car before fleeing. Aheer told BBC Urdu that the assailants accused employees of the Jang group of being traitors, Jews, and Indian agents. He also said he had received death threats in connection with his affiliation with the media group.

Daily Jang, part of the Jang media group, is headed by Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman, who is also the top executive at Geo TV. Rahman’s outlets have come under increased pressure since Geo TV broadcast allegations that Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence was responsible for the April attack on Mir. Critics said the coverage was irresponsible.

Staffers at the The News–including Umar Cheema, who wrote critically about the attack on Mir–have received threats. Vans carrying Jang’s newspapers have been torched in Lahore, Lodhran, and Rawalpindi.

On June 6, Geo News was fined and given a 15-day suspension by PEMRA. The channel went from providing news to millions of people to a blank screen. PEMRA allowed the channel to begin rebroadcasting after 15 days, but news reports said cable operators were continuing to block the channel.

On June 20, PEMRA suspended Geo Entertainment’s license for 30 days and ARY News’ license for 15 days and imposed on each outlet fines of 10 million rupees. News reports said Geo was banned for “insulting the religious sentiments of viewers” in one of its morning shows, and ARY was banned for “bringing high courts into disrepute” in connection with a critical program.

This sets a very dangerous precedent and opens the door for future attempts to shut down news channels that are critical of the state and its agencies. More than 7,500 people are employed under Geo, and their livelihoods and safety are directly affected by the threats to Geo.

We call on your government to reinstate Geo’s ability to operate and broadcast in the country. Your government should ensure journalists at all news outlets are able to work safely and freely in Pakistan.

The commitments you made provide a clear path forward for media freedom in Pakistan. The recent challenges should not derail your efforts to ensure that journalists are able to do their job without fear.

We left Pakistan with a deep sense of optimism following our mission, and remain hopeful that your government is sincerely committed to ensuring greater press freedoms in the country.

Sincerely,
Joel Simon
Executive Director
Kati Marton
CPJ Board member
Ahmed Rashid
CPJ Board member

CC List:
Dr. Nazir Saeed, Secretary, Ministry of Information Broadcasting & National Heritage
Mohammad Azam, Additional Secretary Ministry of Information Broadcasting & National Heritage
S.M. Imran Gardezi, Director General External Publicity Wing
Humera Azam Khan, Director General Human Rights, Ministry of Law, Justice and Human Rights
Ambassador Jalil Abbas Jilani, Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Washington

Committee to Protect Journalists

He said the PFUJ had decided to uphold the freedom of press and would not hesitate in rendering any sacrifice in this regard. He said that they would launch struggle for this cause urging the journalists to prepare themselves for the purpose.

Addressing the staff members of Geo News at its local office here to express solidarity with them, Butt said if ban on Geo News continued after 15 days, they would not tolerate the situation and launch a protest movement.The president and secretary of the Gujranwala Union of Journalists, members of Federal Executive Council and a number of newsmen were present on the occasion.

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