He was speaking at a day-long paralegal workshop titled ‘Communicating rights at work’, organised by IRADA – a not for profit organisation – in collaboration with Solidarity Centre.

Advocate Aftab Alam, the trainer of the workshop, said the number of journalists in Pakistan had increased from 2,000 to over 18,000, whereas the number of other media industry workers from 7,000 to over 300,000 within a period of 13 years.

The rapid growth in the industry was, however, accompanied with a decrease in respect for journalists’ basic labour rights, including fair wages, decent employment conditions, trade union rights and physical safety while on job, he added.

Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) President Afsar Imran opined that existing laws were sufficient to ensure rights, but serious efforts were needed to see that they were implemented in letter and spirit.

All Pakistan Newspapers Employees Confederation (APNEC) chairman Shafiuddin Ashraf observed, “It is us journalists who are to be blamed for the violations of our rights. We have to stand united to ensure we were given our due rights.

Alam called for understanding laws of the media industry in order to make efforts for their implementation.

The participants observed that journalists’ unions had no role in educating media personnel with respect to their rights and neither do they provide any assistance in case of victimisation.

A need for local unions to work in close coordination with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) was also highlighted.

The workshop was attended by senior representatives of APNEC, PFUJ, KUJ and journalists from all media houses.

The News

The protesting journalists demanded restoration of the Geo transmission at the earliest.They were joined by the Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) and the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) along with members of civil society, which included the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and Aurat Foundation among others.

On the occasion, a charter of demands was read out which was later submitted to the Pemra officials. It condemned the illegal meetings held by the Pemra officials which announced that the Geo Television offices should be sealed. “Pemra should set its house in order and give the Jang/Geo group a fair hearing,” it was stated in the charter.

Representatives of the Jang/Geo group said that they had apologised for the content of its programme, Utho, Jago Pakistan, which had hurt the sentiments of Muslims. “The programme has been suspended and an inquiry is under way,” it was stated. “However, other television networks, especially ARY television, has repeated the Qawali 63 times. Pemra should take notice of that as well.”

It was stated that the shutdown of the Geo transmission across the country by cable operators was illegal. “The cable operators have termed Geo television a traitor, but the cable operators show foreign films on their individual channels, which are a violation of the copyright law.”

By banning Geo television, it was stated that the public at large would be deprived of its right to information. “The people of Pakistan have chosen Geo television as the provider of information. They vote for it with the remote.”

It has been stated that the 7,000 employees of Geo television are now scared about their livelihoods as journalism is their bread and butter. “By targeting Geo and pushing for its ban, certain forces are depriving its employees of their livelihood.

“We are neither blasphemers nor traitors, we are only doing journalism,” it was stated.Journalists at the rally held placards of ‘long live Geo’, ‘long live press freedom’, ‘Geo or Jeenay do’ and pictures of Hamid Mir. Wearing black armbands, they raised slogans for press freedom and said that they would protest for press freedom till their dying breath.

Shaheen Qureshi, senior journalist, while addressing the rally, said, “The people who have gathered here today are sepoys of press freedom. This is not just an attack on the Jang/Geo group but on all of the media. The forces which are after us will one by one silence all the voices that differ with them.”

He said that the attack on Hamid Mir ‘the icon of Pakistani journalism’ was pre-planned. “We, as journalists, have read history. We know that red lines are drawn by certain groups. Once a red line is crossed, threats follow. That is why many of our editors have had to seek asylum abroad.”

Time and again every sane voice in the country is branded as a traitor. The list includes Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Zulifkar Ali Bhutto, Mufti Mehmood, Najam Sethi and Beena Sarwar. “Whoever loves is not egoistic. Then why are you being egoistic? We love Pakistan but we do not need a certificate from you. We are not professional patriots. We are not getting paid for declaring patriotism to Pakistan.”

He said that a certain anchor had been indulging in unprofessional practices and spreading false propaganda against the Jang/Geo group. “Are you getting paid by the establishment for toeing a certain line of thought?”

Faisal Aziz, Geo TV Karachi Bureau chief, said, “The journalists of Pakistan are brave. A bullet will not silence them.”Addressing the participants, the President Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) G M Jamali demanded the restoration of Geo transmission immediately. He said they would oppose shutting down any channel or newspaper in Pakistan.

Senior PFUJ leader, Khursheed Abbassi, called upon the authorities to get the Geo transmission restored within two days.

The Karachi Press Club (KPC) Secretary General Amir Latif said they were with Geo from the very beginning of the matter. “A ban on any channel or newspaper is an attack on press freedom.”

The resolution said that democracy should be strengthened as the country could not afford any illegal and unconstitutional act.

The resolution said that freedom of expression is an important right and if this right was curbed, all other rights would also be gagged and therefore the freedom of expression should be ensured. The resolution said that no unconstitutional and undemocratic act in the country would be accepted and such acts would be resisted.

Meanwhile, Reporters without Borders is alarmed by the order issued by three members of the Pemra closing three Geo Television channels – Geo News, Geo Tez and Geo Entertainment – and cancelling their licences.

The order was rapidly disowned by Pemra in a press release that said it was issued following a meeting of only five Pemra members that did not comply with Rule 3(4) of PEMRA Rules 2009, under which at least seven of Pemra’s 12 members must attend a meeting for it to be validly convened.

The release added that the decision that Pemra took at an earlier and valid meeting on May 9 to “refer the (Geo Television) case to the Ministry of Law for legal opinion” was therefore still in effect.

“The hasty decision by three Pemra members that was immediately disowned is indicative of a desire by certain government representatives to use any means, including illegal ones, to ban Geo News from broadcasting,” said Benjamin Ismaïl, the head of the Reporters without Borders Asia-Pacific desk.

“We urge Pemra not to yield to pressure from the intelligence agencies and the defence ministry, and to ensure that the law protects freedom of information.” The Jang and Geo groups have been a target of repeated threats, intimidation and prosecution as a result of the coverage of activities of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in Balochistan.

Agencies add: Meanwhile, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain said it was wrong to snatch and break the cameras and mobile phones of Geo and Jang journalists and to attack the Geo OB vans.

He said it was the fundamental right of a person to stage peaceful protests and demonstrations on minor or major issues and people should hold their peaceful protests within the limits of law, Constitution and moral standards.

In a statement, Altaf Hussain said that the people should not be allowed to break the law under the guise of protests.

The MQM chief said it was a debatable issue whether Geo did things intentionally or unintentionally. However, it was wrong to beat journalists belonging to Geo TV, who are mostly from the poor and middle class.

“We cannot term the protesters’ actions legal and constitutional. Their violent protests not only cause damage to expensive equipment but also injure journalists, drivers, technicians and cameramen associated with the Geo Television,” he said.

He appealed to the people in the name of Pakistan’s security to keep their protest demonstrations peaceful and not to hurt Geo employees and journalists.

Earlier, stating that the freedom of press was essential for strengthening democracy, former prime minister Yusuf Raza Gilani said that the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government had given “unprecedented freedom” to the press.

Speaking to media persons here, Gilani said the PPP believed in freedom of the media adding that media should also show a responsible attitude.

“The PPP-led government extended unprecedented freedom to the press which was not given by any government in the past,” Gilani said at the Multan airport. He said the PPP governments had always provided freedom to all in the country without discrimination and had never imposed restrictions on media institutions.

Acknowledging the role of journalists against dictatorial and autocratic regimes in the country, he said their sacrifices for the freedom of expression and social liberties had paved the way for rejuvenated democracy in the country.

“Democracy and media go hand-in-hand and the freedom of the media guarantees sustained and stable democracy,” the former prime minister said.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Human Rights Cell cautioned against the banning of Geo TV and instead called upon the government to strengthen the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) to ensure that electronic channels should abide by a code of conduct that should be effectively enforced and regulated.

“Resorting to a ban is censorship and there is no room for censorship in a democracy,” stated Dr Nafisa Shah, Central Coordinator of the PPP Human Rights Cell.

“While the cell endorses that press and media must exercise responsibility and not run vilification campaigns, we will not be a party to curbs on media freedom,” she added.

It is a fact that some electronic channels have run full scale campaigns, sometimes maligning national institutions, and constitutional positions and often jeopardising national interest. This is both the fault of the regulator, Pemra, and the inability of the channel owners to enforce the code of conduct. It is time that the media community agrees to abide by the code of conduct and maintain strict neutrality while covering events, she said.

The last PPP government and its leaders were repeatedly made a victim of media trials but the PPP government demonstrated patience and tolerated criticism. ”We are concerned that the Ministry of Information has failed to address the raging media wars, the lethal infighting between channels, and has become a bystander, which has led to the present impasse,” she said quoting the cell members as saying.

The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), district Peshawar, in a meeting passed a resolution that said that no channel in Pakistan should be banned, instead all TV channels must respect the Islamic injunctions.

The News

The Karachi Union of Journalists held a meeting of senior journalists to discuss and find a solution to the prevailing precarious situation faced by journalists following the media crisis that has arisen recently.

Senior journalists, including Abdul Hameed Chhapra, Tahir Najmi, Habib Khan Ghauri, Shahid Hussain, Faysal Aziz Khan, KUJ President GM Jamali, KUJ General Secretary Wajid Raza Isfahani and PFUJ Secretary General Amin Yousuf, were also present at this event, says a press release.

The members of the meeting were of the opinion that the act of disconnecting of any channel or changing its position on the cable is against Pemra laws and is also against the freedom of press and freedom of opinion as enshrined in the Constitution of Pakistan.

The meeting was of the opinion that some channels ran some video clips which antagonised the sentiments of a large section of society. But some other channels aired those clips again and again which resulted in further aggravating the situation, inciting people and thus putting the lives of journalists under threat.

The meeting agreed that on the issue of a particular video clip, a host and Geo TV Network have already tendered an unconditional apology, and this apology was being aired constantly.Most of the Ulema and religious scholars have said that after this apology, the matter should be defused and shelved. The meeting also endorsed this opinion.

A resolution was passed that no media organisation or channel will be allowed to be banned; PFUJ and KUJ will resist any such move and will hold countrywide demonstrations.It was also strongly reiterated that the KUJ and PFUJ stood by all working journalist, especially of Jang and Geo, who were vulnerable. Steps should be put into place to protect the lives and property of all journalists across the media.

The participants also decided that a committee headed by Habib Ghauri and six journalists, comprising the KUJ President GM Jamali, General Secretary Wajid Isfahani, PFUJ General Secretary Amin Yousuf, Bureau Chief Geo Faisal Aziz Khan, Senior Journalist Syed Safdar Ali and Senior Journalist Shahid Hussain, be formed which will seek the opinion of the Ulema and will also stress to the channels to work within journalists ethics.

On the other side, the advisory session of senior journalists, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), National Press Club (NPC), Rawalpindi Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) and Supreme Court Reporters Association was held at the Supreme Court press room.

In the meeting, all the leaders asserted that any decision to impose curbs on the freedom of opinion would not be accepted, nor any idea of closing down a TV channel, newspaper would be seconded.

Condemning the timid act of an assault on Hamid Mir in the strongest terms, all the journalists said that the attack was tantamount to a blow to journalism, democracy and personal freedom. PFUJ President Afzal Butt said that there is no divide among the Pakistani journalists as every journalist represents Hamid Mir.

NPC President Sheheryar Khan, RIUJ President Ali Raza Alvi, General Secretary Bilal Dar, senior journalist and anchorperson Matiullah Jan, Khudayaar Mohla, Rashid Habib, Khalid Azeem, Rana Masood, Ehsan Haqqani, Wahid Murad, Shahzad Khan Abdush Shakoor, Tariq Chaudhry, Tahir A Khan and senior journalists were present on the occasion.

The participants remarked that in democratic societies, journalists were considered as the eye and ear of the society. They added that they would keep rendering sacrifices for the freedom of expression of the masses.They added that the unpleasant voices labelling others as traitors and demanding closure of certain organisations were not among the characteristics of civilised societies.

The journalists, denouncing the controversial programme aired on television channels, termed them against the social values. They also noted that the apology made by Geo and the act of sacking entire team of the programme was a good omen. They proposed that a special committee, comprising senior journalists, should be formed to play a role in the backdrop of the prevailing circumstances.

The News

Karachi-based journalists gathered outside the press club to demand an independent judicial inquiry into the attack.

The demonstration was organised by the Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) on the call of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) led by PFUJ President Rana Azeem.

They condemned the “cowardly attack” and demanded of the government to provide security to journalists. A large number of journalists belonging to different media groups attended the protest to show solidarity with Mir.

Leaders of political parties, including the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), were also present on the occasion.

Senior PPP leader Latif Mughal and MQM coordination committee member Amin-ul-Haq were among those who participated in the countrywide call for protest.

KUJ President GM Jamali said that it was the responsibility of the government to protect its citizens. He demanded from the government to make security arrangements for journalists.

He appealed to the owners of the media groups to unite at one platform to raise their voices against the attack on Mir. The government should take action against the perpetrators or “we shall be forced to hold a massive protest outside the parliament”, he added.

The demonstrators said journalists would continue struggling for their rights, adding that their voices could not be suppressed by terrorists.

MQM’s Haq said: “We have joined this protest to show solidarity with journalists, as our party believes in peaceful coexistence and has always supported journalists.”

Journalists are the most respectable segment of society and they empower the public with information, but they are being attacked for speaking the truth, he added.

South Asia Women Media Association General Secretary Gharida Farooqui urged the journalists to unite at one platform.

She said: “It is ironic that we are divided on petty issues. We should be above party politics. Today Mir was attacked and tomorrow it could be other journalists. Please unite at one forum. How long would we keep staging protests against these attacks?”

Senior Geo News reporter Nida Farooqui said the voice of truth could not be silenced, as “we journalists are determined to present the true picture to the people, and no threats would deter us in providing the people with access to information”.

The News

He was speaking at a ceremony to distribute health insurance cards among members of the Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) at a hotel on Tuesday night.

The KUJ has signed a memorandum of understanding with an insurance company under which cards have been issued to over 1,000 members.

Muzaffar asked the KUJ president to submit the list of martyred journalists so that the process of the distribution of plots could be expedited as per the directives of PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and Patron-in-Chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

He said the PPP had rendered many sacrifices for democracy in the country and even its founder chairman, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was not spared, while former prime minister Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in December 2007 following her return to the country. He also applauded the role of journalists and their struggle along with the PPP.

President KUJ GM Jamali said that under the health insurance policy the members would be entitled to avail treatment at major hospitals of the city. He hailed the issuance of the health cards as a milestone, as it would prove beneficial to the journalist community.

He appealed to the government to ensure safety of the journalists, particularly those working in a critical environment.

President Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists Rana Azeem presented a traditional gift and a shield to Muzaffar.

The News

The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and the Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) organised a protest at the Karachi Press Club (KPC) on Saturday against the attack on Express News anchor Raza Rumi a day earlier.

Unidentified gunmen opened fire on the car of Rumi in Lahore, injuring him and killing his driver. The attack took place just a few hundred yards away from the Express News office in Raja Market, which Rumi had just left after hosting his programme ‘Khabar Se Agay’.

Condemning the incident, PFUJ General Secretary Amin Yousuf demanded the government arrest the culprits immediately.

“The voice of journalists cannot be suppressed with such violence. We will continue our protest until the suspects behind the attack on Raza Rumi are behind bars.”

KUJ President GM Jamali said, “Our helpless rulers should know that we can’t abandon our profession and we will continue to play our role in strengthening democracy.”

Addressing the protesters, KUJ General Secretary Hassan Abbas said the Express Media Group had been attacked by four times, but the government did not take any precautionary steps to curb the violence against the group.

On the call of the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) and the National Press Club (NPC), hundreds of journalists assembled in front of NPC to show solidarity with Raza Rumi and the Express Media Group. They demanded formation of a special investigation committee to probe the attack.

In Lahore, journalists, lawyers and members also condemned the attack on Express Media Group and Raza Rumi. “He is one of the finest journalists in Pakistan and is a voice of reason,” said lawyer, columnist and author Yasser Latif Hamdani. Talking to The Express Tribune, he said the failure of the Punjab government to take these groups to task is the primary reason such lawlessness prevails.

Separately, news anchor Ajmal Jami said, “I wonder how anyone could attack a man who follows Data Ali Hajveri, who reads Khawaja Ghulam Fareed, and who is a follower of all the Sufi saints.”

In a strong statement, South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) and South Asia Media Commission (SAMC) termed the incident an outrageous attack. “We note with indignation that this is the fifth attack on the Express Media Group,” said SAFMA secretary general Imtiaz Alam, SAFMA Pakistan president Nusrat Javeed, SAMC Chairman Kumar Ketkar, SAMC Secretary General M Ziauddin and Media Commission-Pakistan General Secretary Babar Ayaz in a statement.

The incident is a sad reminder of the threats faced by journalists like him who are promoting human rights, tolerance and understanding in Pakistan, they underlined. We extend our condolences to the family of Mustafa, the driver, and seek compensation for his family, they added.

In Quetta, journalists walked out from the coverage of Balochistan Assembly’s proceedings on Saturday to protest against the attack on Express Media Group. Balochistan Union of Journalists (BUJ) staged a loud demonstration outside the assembly building.

PFUJ provincial president Afzal Butt and National Press Club General Secretary Tariq Chaudhry along with BUJ President Irfan Saeed condemned the attack and demanded an investigation. This was the fifth attack on the media group but there has been no progress in the investigation, they complained.

In Sukkur, scores of journalists staged a protest sit-in at the clock tower roundabout. Responding to the call of PFUJ, Sukkur Union of Journalists representatives carried banners and placards condemning the attack. Journalists are being attacked and killed for telling the truth, which proves that our society is now ethically bankrupted, they claimed.

Meanwhile, the Khyber Union of Journalists (KHUJ), together with members of the Peshawar Press Club, joined in the nationwide protests. “This is not the first time that the same media organisation has been targeted, yet authorities have still not taken any action to protect journalists,” said Nisar Mehmood, the president of KHUJ.

IGP presents investigation report

Punjab Inspector-General of Police Khan Baig presented the initial inquiry report of the attack, according to which six assailants on three motorcycles attacked Raza Rumi.

As soon as the car reached a turn near Raja Market on main Ferozepur Road, two of the attackers opened fire from the rear, while four others – who were waiting in an empty plot to ambush the car – fired from the left.

The police collected 11 empty shells from the crime scene while 35 bullets pierced through Rumi’s car. DIG Investigation Lahore Zulfiqar Hameed said, according to witnesses, the suspects had covered their faces using handkerchiefs and so the police will not be able to draw their sketches. “It is too early to say but we suspect the involvement of two to three groups,” he said. On the motivation of these groups, he said, “Apparently, political and religious.”

Express Tribune

Another bomb was discovered on February 18 in the parking lot of ARY television network. The attacks come within a month of the killing of three staff members of Express News, for which no one has yet been arrested.

The injured were Rasool Baksh, Guard and Abdus Sattar, Driver of Business Recorder who were rushed to a nearby hospital.

The attackers on a motorbike threw a low-intensity bomb at the guards’ check post outside the building of Business Recorder Group at around 7 PM, then went toward the Nawa-i-Waqt Group building and threw another crude bomb before fleeing the scene. Luckily, the second bomb did not explode and was defused by police. While the first bomb also damaged the main gate of the office and vehicles parked outside. An official of the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) said the bomb was a hand-made
cracker, prepared in a soft-drink tin and it contained around 250 to 300 grams of Aluminium powder as explosive.

In a separate incident of same sort, an explosive material found in the car parking of ARY TV channel’s head office in the morning of February 18. The bomb did not explode and was diffused by police.

The Coalition for Media Safety (COMS) strongly condemned the attack and called for effective steps by the government to ensure the safety of media organisations and personnel and for an end to the culture of impunity for those who resort to violence against media, which has made Pakistan among the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists.

In a statement issued here today COMS said that such attacks with impunity and failure of the police to investigate violence against media are further evidence of the urgent need for the appointment of a special prosecutor for investigate and prosecute violence against media organisations and professionals.

Pakistan Broadcasting Association (PBA) condemned the attack in strongest term and demanded that the Government should immediately investigate the incidents, provide security to media and arrest those involved. These attacks are attempts to prevent media from performing its responsibilities.

The All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) also condemned the attacks and expressed great concern over the increasing trend of attacks on media houses which suggests failure of law enforcing institutions. The APNS reiterated its demand that the government should provide foolproof security to the media houses and media men.

Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) strongly condemned the attack and demanded of the law enforcement agencies to take necessary steps to arrest the culprits. PFUJ said such incidents show the extent of threat faced by media, and demanded security to media organisations and media persons.

Pakistan Press Foundation

KARACHI: Protests were staged on Monday in different parts of the country, including Quetta, Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi, against the increasing attacks on journalists by Taliban.

Balochistan Union of Journalists (BUJ) has announced three-day mourning against the killing of a private TV workers and attack on the bureau chief of another private TV channel in Karachi.

The BUJ members staged a protest demonstration outside the Quetta Press Club against the killing of three workers of a private TV channel in Karachi and attempt to kidnap the bureau chief of another private TV channel in Islamabad. The protest call was given by Pakistan Federal Union of Journalist (PFUJ). The protesting journalists were carrying placards and banners and chanted slogans condemning the killing of the three Express TV workers and an attempt to kidnap the bureau chief a private TV channel in Islamabad.

Addressing the protesters, Balochistan Union of Journalists President Irfan Saeed and Quetta Press Club President Raza Rehman, speaking on the occasion, said a conspiracy was being hatched against freedom of speech and free press.

“The killing of three workers of a private TV channel and attempt to kidnap the bureau chief of another TV channel is part of the conspiracy,” they said and added journalists were being targeted in violation of the freedom of speech.

They announced three-day mourning in Quetta during which black flag would be hoisted on the building of Quetta Press Club. They said journalists would wear black bands on their hands during the duty hours. The journalists demanded an immediate arrest of those behind the killing of a private TV workers and attack on the bureau chief of another private TV channel.

Meanwhile, the Hafizabad Press Club took out a rally to protest the killing of three members of a private TV channel team in Karachi.

Led by Press Club Chairman Muhammad Yaqoob, the protesters marched from the club to Fawara Chowk, chanting slogans against terrorism. They termed the killings an attack on freedom of the press and called upon the government to arrest the perpetrators and protect journalists. They offered fateha for the departed souls of the deceased and expressed their sympathies with the bereaved families. They also demanded payment of compensation to their heirs.

They also condemned torture of some journalists inside the KPK Assembly and a ban on the entry of media persons in an official function in Lahore despite an invitation extended to them by the Directorate General of Public Relations.

The Nation

Three staffers of “Express News” TV channel were killed on January 17, 2014, when unknown armed men riding on motorcycles opened fire at the stationary Digital Satellite News Gathering (DSNG) van of the channel in Karachi, the capital city of Pakistan’s southern Sindh province.

Those killed included Waqas Aziz Khan, technician; Muhammad Khalid, van driver; and Muhammad Ashraf, security guard. Khalid is survived by his wife and three children; Khan was the eldest of two siblings while Ashraf got married about three months ago. The government has announced compensation of Rs: 0.5 million for each victim’s family.

All three victims seated in front of the van were received bullets were rushed to the hospital where they were pronounced dead. “They were shot multiple times from close range and died due to excessive blood loss” said the medico-legal officer at the hospital.

This was the third and most lethal attack on Express Media Group and its staff in the space of five months. In two previous attacks, the main offices of Express Media Group were targeted.

Soon after the attack, in a live telephone call to the anchor person of Express TV, Ehsanullah Ehsan, former spokesman for Tahreek e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed the responsibility of killings. He said “At present, Pakistani media is playing the role of (enemies and spread) venomous propaganda against Tehreek-e-Taliban. They have assumed the (role of) opposition. We had intimated the media earlier and warn it once again that (they must) side with us in this venomous propaganda.”

In response to the incident, government constituted a two-member committee, comprising the Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Senator Pervaiz Rashid and Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan to contact media houses and journalists’ bodies to devise a strategy for security of journalists.

Protest demonstrations by the journalists, photographers, cameramen, leaders of political parties and activists of civil society were held on Jan 18 in Karachi, and many other cities and towns.
Speaking to demonstrators The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) Secretary General, Amin Yousuf condemned the incident and demanded immediate arrest of the killers and announced 10-day mourning during which black flags would be hoisted outside press clubs throughout the country.
He urged the Pakistan Broadcasters Association, the All-Pakistan Newspaper Society, the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors to chalk out a joint line of action to ensure safety of workers in newspaper organisations and TV channels.

Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) President G M Jamali while condemning the brutal killing of the media workers, said media is being targeted continuously but rulers were playing the role of a silent spectator.

Pakistan Press Foundation