Senior leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Makhdoom Javed Hashmi, has said that free, independent and a powerful media was imperative for nations to keep check on other three pillars of state and pinpoint the misdeeds of rulers and government's functionaries.
He was addressing a protest demonstration organised by Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (Dastoor) at Rawalpindi-Islamabad Press Club against the strict media curbs imposed after declaration of emergency rule. Haji Nawaz Raza, President PFUJ led the demonstration, which was also attended by large number of journalists, civil society activists, lawyers and students. The demonstrators were chanting slogans against government, demanding withdrawal of PEMRA ordinance and restrictions on media.
Hashmi said that Musharraf regime during the last five years played havoc with country's economy and its institutions and to hide their misdeeds they were gagging media and using brutal force against it. 'Musharraf era proved blackest era for the media. Journalists were tortured, killed and media houses were burnt and fired upon by state agencies', he blamed.
He praised mediamen for showing courage in challenging the tyrannical and despotic actions. He said journalists, lawyers, students and civil society activists would open a new chapter of Pakistan's history, where rule of law, supremacy of constitution would prevail instead the rule despots.
PFUJ President Haji Nawaz Raza said that journalists community would continue struggle till complete withdrawal of the black laws promulgated to muzzle free media. "Use of force against media has exposed the frustration of the government and it has bent upon to hide its ills by use of negative tricks", he said. He termed the PEMRA Ordinance as black law and ban on different news channels as restriction on freedom of expression.
He said that journalists community demands to eliminate PEMRA Ordinance and ban on private television channels should be lifted at once. He reiterated its resolve that the protest of journalists would be continued till the fulfilment of their demands.
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