PRESS CONFERENCE:
PFUJ announce protest campaign against curbs on media
ISLAMABAD, Nov 7: Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), in an emergency meeting held in Islamabad, decided to launch a worldwide protest campaign against the recent curbs of print and electronic media, saying emergency was not imposed to crush militancy but judicery, media, lawyers and civil society.
Worldwide "Global Action Day," will be observe on November 15, on the call of PFUJ and International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), to express solidarity with the Pakistani journalists. An international media mission will visit Pakistan to enquire about the recent curbs and action against the media. Representatives of all the major media watchdogs are expected to join the mission during the visit.
PFUJ in a resolution said, "since Nov. 3, militants were freed, but hundreds of lawyers, members of civil society and mediamen were arrested and put behind bars, all the private news channels, FM radio including foreign news channels like BBC, CNN, Al-jazera were blocked. Government action in the last four days clearly showed the emergency was imposed to crush the voice of dissent. Its most humiliating the way four cameramen including the one who lost one of his finger in a bomb blast, and a reporter were produced like terrorists with hand cuffed," PFUJ said in a resolution and demanded lifting of emergency, withdrawal of two anti-media Ordinances against the print and electronic media, and withdrawal of restrictions imposed on news channels and FM-radios.
PFUJ paid tribute to those Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts, who did not took oath under the Provisional Constitutional Order, PCO and urged the newspaper owners and broadcasters not to take oath under "PCO on Media," through Ordinances, 2007 which has amended PPO-2002 and PEMRA-2002.
PFUJ lauded the efforts of journalists who stood firm since the imposition of emergency and held protest meetings and demonstrations and International
PFUJ vowed to defend freedom of the Press as it did in the last 50 years, but appealed to all the media organisations including owners and editor's bodies APNS, CPNE, PBA to join the struggle for "People's right to know."
It condemned arrest of President of Supreme Court Bar Association, Aitzaz Ahsan, former President of SCBA, Munir Malik, prominent Human Rights figures like Ms Asma Jehangir, I.A.Rehman, Iqbal Haider, SAFMA Secretary General, Imtiaz Alam and others. PFUJ also demanded release of all political leaders and workers.
LINE OF ACTION:-
PFUJ has set Thursday, November 8, deadline for the withdrawal of the two Ordinance, lifting curbs news channels and FM-radios, failing which complete "Black Day," will be observe throughout Pakistan on Friday, November 9. Journalists, cameramen, photographers will boycott all the official functions on Friday and Saturday, hoist black flags at the Press Club. PFUJ have appealed to all the news anchors to wear black arms band during their programmes.
On November 12, all the pfuj affiliates will organise meetings in different newspapers, tv channels.
On Wednesday, Nov 14, "Protest Camps," will be set-up and token hunger strike will be observe outside the Press Clubs.
On Thursday, Nov 15, "Global Action Day," will be observe during which protest demonstration will be held in different countries by the IFJ, affiliates and memorandum will be submitted to Pakistani embassies.
On Tuesday, Nov 20, Protest meetings and demonstrations will be held throughout Pakistan.
Federal Executive Council (FEC) of the PFUJ and National Executive Committee (NEC) of All Pakistan Newspapers Employees Confederation (APNEC) will be held from November 30 to December 2, in Islamabad to draw further course of action for the acceptance of all their demands.
The meeting was attended by the President and General Secretaries of the affiliated unions and Executive Council members of the PFUJ, Secretary General of APNEC. Earlier, all the Ujs held their meetings in their respective centres and sent their proposals.
Regards,
Mazhar Abbas
Secretary General, PFUJ
Nov. 7, 2007
