The Faisalabad Union of Journalists (FUJ), TV Journalists Union and News Photographers Association jointly observed Black Day to mark protest against police violence meted on the journalists outside the Election Commission Office in Islamabad.
Local journalists also observed two-hour pen down strike and brought out a procession carrying black flags. Speakers at the protest rally condemned the law enforcing agencies for violating the code of conduct in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi and termed these acts as gross violation of freedom of press in the country. Demonstrators also protested outside the offices of City District Government and hoisted black flags at its main gate.
Participants in the rally chanted slogans against the police action and called upon higher authorities to take stern action against culprits accountable for such deplorable acts against electronic and print media. They also condemned the authorities and federal ministers, who did not come out of the Election Commission office to express sympathy with the injured media persons.
Speakers at the rally were President, TV Journalists Association, Shahid Ali, former President Faisalabad Press Club, Maqbool Ahmad Lodhi, President, News Photographers Association, Saeed Somi, ex-president FUJ, Mian Rifat Qadri, Secretary, District Bar Association, Tauqeer Sarwar Sheikh, Deputy Opposition Leader in Punjab Assembly, Rana Sana Ullah Khan, MPA, Khalida Mansoor, MPA, Sheikh Ejaz Ahmad, former Federal Minister, Petor Jhon Sahotra, former MNA, Mian Abdul Manan, President, MMA Faisalabad District, Sardar Zafar Hussain, President, PML(N), Khuwaja Muhammad Islam, JI Faisalabad, Engineer Azeem Randhawa and group leader of NGOs, Razia Joseph.
Meanwhile, different political parties and religious organisations have also condemned the police action against political workers, lawyers and journalists.
District Union of Journalists brought out a procession at Toba Tek Singh and Jhang. Demonstrations were also staged at Jauharabad, Chichawatni, Gojra, Jaranwala and other towns.