Speakers at a protest meeting of the KUJ Dawn Unit here Tuesday evening demanded immediate withdrawal of the PCO, ending curbs on media, restoration of all news channels, and implementation of the 7th wage award.
The secretary-general of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, Mazhar Abbas, speaking to journalists demanded immediate repeal of the two ordinances affecting media freedom. He said PFUJ and its affiliated unions' struggle would continue even after the restoration of all channels and till the achievement of complete freedom of the media.
The PFUJ secretary-general charged that the new black laws were tantamount to attack on journalists. He said the journalists were demanding freedom of expression for the people of the country.
KUJ president Shamim-ur-Rahman stressed the need for a united struggle of journalists of the country. He said a countrywide programme of protests devised by the PFUJ was being followed.
President of the Pakistan Herald Workers Union Afzal Baloch, and journalists Khursheed Tanveer, Haroon Khalid, Unit chief Zaheer Ahmed Khan and others spoke about various aspects of the struggle, and expressed their resolve to continue to serve the cause of journalists at all costs.
This meeting also condemned the police for resorting to Lathi-charge on journalists, especially in Karachi as they were marching towards the Governor's House to register protest against media curbs.
The meeting also demanded immediate suspension of police personnel posted outside the Karachi Press Club, and escorting the rallies in Faislabad, Peshawar and Hyderabad, Sukkur, Mirpurkhas and Quetta for participating in gory incidents of manhandling and treating the journalist community with intense hatred and venom.
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