Protesting journalists led by President of Khyber Union of Journalists (KhUJ) Nisar Mehmood, Vice President Mohammad Naeem and President Peshawar Press Club Nasir Hussain severely criticised use of force against on duty journalists.

Holding banners and placards, they said that this has now become a routine and the government should take steps for journalists’ protection immediately.

No ban on media would be accepted because media freedom has been achieved after a long struggle. They demanded of the government to announce a judicial commission for probing into Islamabad incident and those found guilty must be booked and punished exemplary. Later the protesting journalists dispersed peacefully.

The nation

A remote-controlled explosive material was placed by the unidentified men, outside the residence of Bhagwan, and it exploded while the journalist was at home.

The Express Tribune reported that Bhagwan was leaving his house along with his wife when he saw unidentified persons on motorcycle placing a homemade bomb at the door. The bomb exploded as soon as Bhagwan and his wife ran inside their house to take cover.

There were no casualties but the main gate, window panes and car were damaged.

Earlier this year on March 19,ban improvised explosive device (IED) with two kilograms of explosives was found in front of his house which was subsequently defused by the Bomb Disposal Squad. On April 6, 2014 two masked men riding a motorcycle threw a hand grenade at the main gate of house which went off with a loud bang damaging the gate. The journalist and his family members remained unhurt.

Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) General Secretary Amin Yousuf, Khyber Union of Journalists (KhUJ) President Nisar Mahmood strongly condemned the attack on Bhagwan’s house.

Pakistan Press Foundation

On the call of President of PFUJ Afzal Butt, Secretary Khurshid Abassi and Chairman All Pakistan Council of Press Clubs Irshad Ansari demonstrations were held and protest camps were staged outside the press clubs of Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Gilgit, Muzaffarabad, Hyderabad, Sukkar, Larkana, Dera Ismail Khan, Gujranwala, Shiekhupura, Sargodha, Sialkot, Malkot, Multan, Okara, Abbottabad, Khanewal, Rahimyar Khan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Faisalabad, Sahiwal, Bahawalpur, Kasur, Jhang, Texila, Hassanabdal, Murree, Gujar Khan.

A protest camp was set up outside the Islamabad Press Club under the auspices of Islamabad Union of Journalists and National Press Club against the illegal ban on media which was participated by a large number of journalists of twin cities while a protest rally was also taken out to Super Market. On this occasion the participants raised slogans such as restore Geo News and ARY, ban on media not acceptable and codes of Pemra not acceptable. they also held placards inscribed with different slogans.

President of PFUJ Afzal Butt said the conspiracy to target Geo is meant to weaken and squeeze media which would not be allowed in any shape. He said, “The Pemra which is run by our taxes is busy imposing illegal and unconstitutional sanctions on us.” He said, “The PFUJ had not only carried out struggle by taking to streets but also faced lashes and imprisonments by confronting the dictators for the restoration of democracy. Today the democratic government is busy marring the freedom of expression,” he lamented.

He said those who impose bans should remember that the dictator who tried to impose curbs on November 3, 2007 is wandering today to find shelter for himself.” He said the protest campaign would be continued till the end of curbs on media.

Secretary General PFUJ Khurshid Abassi said that the punishment given by Pemra was over for a long time but despite that the transmissions of Geo News were not fully restored and such kind of tactics are not used in any part of the world.

He said not only that Geo is not fully restored but all channels of Geo family are not shown on their original numbers.

While addressing Chairman All Pakistan Council of Press Clubs Arshad Ansari said that Hamid Mir was attacked on April 19 and at first the unannounced curbs were imposed on Geo News and then through Pemra. He said the newspapers copies of Jang and The News were burnt and vehicles of Jang Group and hawkers who carried Jang and The News copies were attacked.

He said no culprit has been caught in this game since April 19. He said that on the contrary every day was being made tough for Geo. He said in this conspiracy efforts were being made to weaken and gag media and render our journalists unemployed and this would not be tolerated at any cost. He said that they demanded the government, Pemra and other institutions to stop such kind of sanctions and conspiracies forthwith otherwise we would encircle subject everyone to gherao.

President National Press Club Sheryar Khan, General Secretary RIUJ Bilal Dar, and President of RISJA Amir Butt also addressed the participants of the protest camp.

Our Peshawar Bureau adds: Like other parts of the country, the journalist community in the provincial capital staged protest and asked the authorities to lift curbs television channels to avoid more severe agitation by the media persons in the country.

The Khyber Union of Journalists (KhUJ) and Peshawar Press Club set up a protest camp outside the Peshawar Press Club on Saturday. The camp, besides others, was attended by KhUJ president Nisar Mehmood and Peshawar Press Club president Nasir Hussain.

The protesting journalists, carrying placards and banners inscribed with pro-media statements, asked the government to stop using coercive tactics against the media and journalists.

They also said that despite the decision of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regularity Authority (Pemra), the authorities concerned had yet to resume the telecast of banned channels in many areas of the province, while in some areas where the telecast of the channels has even been resumed, the cable operators have put these channels on last numbers and bad reception has marred the quality of the programmes.

They also warned that journalists across the country would be forced to take to the streets if the government did not stop using Pemra for its ulterior motives.

Our Lahore correspondent adds: Journalists at Lahore Press Club set up a protest camp on Saturday to condemn the ban on channels, under the aegis of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists and Council of Pakistan Press Clubs.

A number of journalists participated in the protest camp to register their condemnation of the authorities concerned for attempts to suppress the freedom of expression and fundamental rights of citizens.

Journalists raised slogans against Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) for victimising TV channels on flimsy charges, depriving viewers and journalists of their fundamental rights.

Speaking at the camp, senior journalists including Anjum Rasheed and Shahbaz Mian warned that attempts to stifle the voice of media would make the country the worst detention centre and bring a bad name to democracy.

They demanded Pemra evolve clear rules for punishing TV channels and desist from victimisation in the name of blasphemy and defamation of state institutions.

The News

Journalists and people from other walks of life visited the camp to express solidarity with the Jang Media Group. The participants chanted slogans in favour of Geo and the Jang Group and condemned the unilateral decision of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) without even hearing the viewpoint of the largest media group of the country.

They demanded lifting of the ban on Geo TV and an end to the attacks on the vehicles carrying copies of the dailies The News and Jang. Besides others, Khyber Union of Journalists (KhUJ) President Nisar Mehmood, Shamim Shahid, Arshad Aziz Malik, Bureau Chief of Online News Agency, Imtiaz Hussain, Mehmood Jan Babar attended the camp.

The speakers on the occasion termed as unjust the Pemra decision to suspend Geo TV for 15 days and fine it Rs10 million. They said the Jang Media Group workers and editors were being harassed and intimidated and the copies of The News and Jang were being burnt.

They said that the Geo TV was, in fact, already taken off air for 45 days through the use of force and threats. They said the Jang Media Group had suffered huge financial losses, but it had refused to bow to any undue pressure and threats as it believed in the freedom of the media.

The journalists and newspapers employees at the protest camp pledged to continue the campaign until Geo TV was allowed to operate freely and the newspapers of the Jang Group were allowed to be distributed all over Pakistan.

The News

The participants of the camp urged the government to lift the ban on the favourite channel and curbs on the largest media group of the country. A large number of journalists from print and electronic media, members of the civil society and representatives of the non-government organisations visited the camp set up by the Khyber Union of Journalists (KhUJ) to express solidarity with the Jang Media Group.

The participants of the camp chanted slogans against the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) for blacking out the transmission of the most popular TV channel of the country.

Arshad Aziz Malik, Mahmood Jan Babar, Shamim Shahid, Farmanullah Jan, Tahir Hussain, Azeem Khan, Imdad Ali Qizilbash, Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz leader Arbab Khizer Hayat, Saima Munir of the Aurat Foundation and others turned up at the camp.

Speaking on the occasion, the participants resented closure of the Geo TV. They said that the suspension of the licence of the channel had deprived the viewers of watching their favourite channel.

They asked the journalist community to unite against the curbs on the channel. They said that other television channels would be targetted in future if the ban on the Geo channel was not resisted.

The speakers said that muzzling the press would pose a threat to the democratic system in the country. They said that Jang Media Group was the largest media group in the country and its workers rendered matchless sacrifices for freedom of the press.

They said the group suffered financial losses, but didn’t bow to any pressure and continued to disseminate authentic and correct information to its viewers and readers. The participants threatened to launch a countrywide protest if the ban on the Geo TV was not lifted.

The News

The working group will include representatives of Khyber Union of Journalists (KHUJ), Peshawar Press Club, Tribal Union of Journalists (TUJ), lawyers, civil society and Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP). The decision was taken at a consultative meeting of journalists and various citizen groups on building coalition for legal framework to stop journalists’ killings held at a hotel.

A few hours after a group of senior journalists discussed threats to journalists and proposed measures to tackle the situation, senior journalist Hamid Mir was shot and injured in Karachi. This further highlighted the growing threats to the journalists across the country at a time when the government is hardly taking steps to protect them. The working group will establish a provincial steering committee comprising media stakeholders and known civil society members which will formulate terms of reference (ToRs) for the group as well as for the committee.

The meeting was organised by the Institute for Research, Advocacy and Development (IRADA), in collaboration with the UNESCO. IRADA Executive Director Aftab Alam moderated the sessions.

The meeting discussed the issues and challenges of journalists’ safety, freedom of expression and right to information in Pakistan. The participants dilated upon the worrisome situation regarding safety and security of journalists and said members of the media were faced with threats from both state and non-state actors.

Pakistan has been declared one of the most dangerous countries of the world for journalists. In 2014, already one journalist and three members of his crew have been killed in the country.

A UN-supported international conference in Islamabad in 2013 established the Pakistan Coalition on Media Safety (PCOMS) to serve as the platform for collaborative measures to combat violence against journalists in Pakistan and to mobilise ideas, resources, initiatives and actions.

Senior journalist Iqbal Khattak, who serves as national coordinator for PCOMS, said the coalition in its recent meeting approved reports of two working groups to prepare safety protocols for the media houses and get a special public prosecutor to deal with the cases of impunity regarding attacks on journalists.

At the provincial level, the participants stressed the need for such a coalition to raise the issues of safety and security of journalists of the province as well as of adjoining tribal areas.

The speakers said threats could not be eliminated but would be reduced by following journalistic ethics. They also emphasised the need for unity among journalist bodies to work together for safety and welfare of the community.

Managing Director Baacha Khan Trust Educational Foundation Dr Khadim Hussain, President Khyber Union of Journalists Nisar Mehmood, General Secretary Peshawar Press Club Fida Adeel, senior journalists Shamim Shahid, Faridullah Khan, Waseem Ahmad Shah, Aftab Alam and others also spoke on the occasion.

The News

The protestors, who came out from the Peshawar Press Club in a procession, were led by Khyber Union of Journalists (KhUJ) President Nisar Mahmood and Peshawar Press Club President Nasir Hussain. The protesters were holding banners and placards demanding protection to mediapersons and the arrest of the attackers.

Addressing the protesting journalists, the KhUJ president condemned the attack on the residence of Jamshed Baghwan, bureau chief of a private television channel, and described it an attempt to gag voice of the journalists. He said it was not the first incident but over 100 journalists had lost their lives in the line of duty across the country.

“The attackers, whoever they may be, cannot suppress our voice through such mean tactics because journalists are ready to render sacrifices for fulfilling their professional duties at all costs without succumbing to any pressure,” he said.The press club president said it was duty of the government to hold an inquiry into the matter and unveil the offenders involved in the terrorist act.

He said that targeting the journalists was meant to silence voice of the society. He said that it was the second attack on the journalist as previously an improvised explosive device had been recovered from the locality.

A large number of media people attended the protest and chanted slogans seeking protection to the journalists. Former provincial minister and ANP leader Mian Iftikhar Hussain also visited the Press Club to express solidarity with the journalists and condemn the attack on Jamshed Baghwan’s house.

The News

Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan had claimed the responsibility for that while no one has yet claimed the responsibility for the second attack. This is the sixth attack on same media group in 2013-14.

Two masked men riding on a motorcycle threw a hand grenade at the main gate of journalist’s house which went off with a loud bang damaging the main gate of the house. Journalist and his family members remained unhurt.

Pakistan federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) General Secretary Amin Yousuf, Khyber Union of Journalists (KhUJ) President Nisar Mahmood, Peshawar Press Club (PPC) and Crimes and Terrorism Journalists Forum President Javed Aziz Khan condemned the attack on Baghwan and other journalists across the country. They demanded the federal and provincial governments to properly probe the threats and attacks and provide security to the media persons.

PFUJ and KhUJ staged protest demonstration today April 7 at 1 pm outside the Peshawar Press Club.

Pakistan Press Foundation

The main gate of the house was damaged in the attack which happened just over two weeks after an explosive device was found and subsequently defused by the Bomb Disposal Squad near Baghwan’s house.

Around 6:25am two masked men riding on a motorcycle threw a hand grenade at the main gate of Baghwan’s house which went off with a loud bang.

According to the police, it was a China-made grenade. “We’ve registered an FIR on the complaint of Jamshed Baghwan,” an official of the Yakatot police station told The Express Tribune.

Talking about the 2kg device found on March 19 outside Baghwan’s house, he said that it was defused because it was spotted by the family on time.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s Minister for Industries Shaukat Ali Yousafzai condemned the attack and ordered investigation.

Baghwan is a senior journalist and the attack on his house is, in fact, an attack on free media, Yousafzai said. It’s the government responsibility to protect journalists, he added and directed the city police chief to consult media persons and chalk out a security plan for them.

Meanwhile, the Khyber Union of Journalists (KhUJ) condemned the attack and demanded thorough investigation.

KhUJ President Nisar Mehmood and General Secretary Tariq Afaq said Baghwan is a senior journalist and such attacks would not be tolerated. The government should fulfill its responsibility to protect journalists.

The KhUJ will stage a demonstration outside the Peshawar Press Club at 1pm on Monday to protest against the attack.

Express Tribune