Scores of journalists staged on Thursday a sit-in in front of the Multan Press Club as their struggle against restrictions on the media and emergency rule entered its 21st day. Civil society activists, lawyers, students and the general public also joined the protest to express solidarity with the journalists.
The protestors, wearing black armbands and waving black flags, chanted slogans against media curbs and demanded restoration of civil rights. Speaking on the occasion, senior lawyer Shaikh Faheem Ahmed criticised the government for gagging the media and demanded the military and intelligence agencies end interference in national politics. He accused intelligence agencies of conspiring to influence the general elections for getting desired results.
Shaikh laid stress on unity and harmony among all segments of society in the fight for their rights, saying all political parties and civil society organisations should join journalists' struggle.