Punjab Union of Journalists (PUJ) has staged hunger strike camp at the Lahore Press Club (LPC) here on Saturday to mark protest against the state of emergency in the country. A large number of Journalists, human rights activists and a delegation of Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) led by it's president Dr Yasmin Rashid also joined the camp to express their solidarity with the journalist fraternity.
Journalists chanted "go Musharraf go", "we want freedom of press" and other anti-government slogans. They also criticised Pemra ordinance and rejected the government's constrain on press freedom.
Senior journalists Khawar Naeem Hashmi, Abdul Waheed Butt, president PUJ, Arif Hameed Bhatti, Secretary press club, Noman Yawar Syed, Shoaib ud Din and a good number of journalists took part in the hunger strike on the first day of the camp. A large number of police contingents cordoned off the press club building thorough the demo.
The DSP, Ashraf Chdhar held talks with the PMA and PUJ leaders and asked that district administration did not allow holding of any procession or sit in due to imposition of emergency rules. Later journalists cancelled to lodge protest outside the press club on the request of police authorities. Talking to media men, Bhatti said that PUJ would record protest on roads if government does not lift ban on the electronic media.