The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) criticising imposition of emergency, strongly condemned police raids on private TV news channels, two FM radios and vowed to resist it with the cooperation of other media organisations including international media watchdogs.
In a press release it said all the private news channels have been blocked since last 24 hours, police raided the offices of FM-99, in Islamabad, FM-103, in Karachi and Aaj TV in Islamabad. It said on Sunday morning an official stopped the ARY news team in Quetta, when they were taking visuals, snatched the camera and removed film before handing it back.
The PFUJ expressed complete solidarity with the affected channels and radios. It summoned an emergency meeting on Tuesday to consider joint action along with other media bodies and may also give call for "Global Action Day," during which media bodies around the world will protest against media curbs in Pakistan.
It said all the international media watchdogs including International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), and Reporters Sans Frontiers (RSF) have already extended their support to PFUJ.
PFUJ appealed to all the media organisations including Pakistan Broadcasters Association, PBA, Council of Pakistan Newspapers Editors, CPNE and All Pakistan Newspapers Society, APNS to struggle for freedom of expression.