Journalists protest curbs on media

The local journalists on Friday kept up their protest against curbs on free media imposed with the declaration of the state of emergency in Pakistan by the army chief to shut the mouth of the dissent in the country.
The journalists of the provincial metropolis under the banner of the Khyber Union of Journalists (KhUJ) took out a procession from Peshawar Press Club (PPC) and marched towards Governor's House for third consecutive day to protest the anti-media measures initiated by the government. The representatives of the civil societies and Media Marketing Association (MMA) also participated.
The protesting journalists led by president of KhUJ, Jan Afzal and secretary general, Nasir Hussein carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans against dictatorship and in favour of democracy were also chanting slogans against the military government and curbs on media.
The procession of the journalists was prevented from marching towards the main entrance of the Governor's House few meters away at the barrier established here by the law-enforcement agencies where the demo converted into a public meeting.
Addressing the demonstrators, president KhUJ, Jan Afzal and secretary general Nasir Hussein vowed that the peaceful movement would remain continue till the achievement of the desired goals. They warned that journalists would not be intimated through the use of force and other cheap tactics of the rulers.
Later, an emergency meeting of the union reviewed the movement launched on the call of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), a nation-wide representative body of journalists of Pakistan and expressed satisfaction over the participation of their colleagues in it.
Addressing the meeting, secretary general KhUJ, Nasir Hussein said that the spirit and fervour of the members of the union has proved that they will succeed in achievement of the success of their struggle. The meeting also reviewed future strategy of the union in this regard.
A heavy contingent of police was also deployed on the roads in front of Peshawar Press Club (PPC). However, no untoward incident occurred and journalists returned to club amid chanting of slogans against the government for imposition of curbs on independent media of the country.
The NWFP chapter Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) also announced full support and cooperation to the protesting journalists in their struggle for free media in the country.
In this connection, a delegation of the party led by its divisional president, Syed Zahir Ali Shah held a meeting with president and general secretary of the KhUJ. Speaking on the occasion, the PPP leader said that their party had always played the role of front line force in the struggle for independence of media and would also continue this role in future also.
The leaders and workers of PPP also staged a demonstration in favour of free media in front of the press club. They condemned the baton charging of journalists in Karachi and called for suspension of the police officials responsible for the episode and judicial inquiry of the incident.