KARACHI, April 9: Journalists all over the country on Wednesday staged protest demonstrations to condemn the killing of newsmen and civilians in the military attack on Iraq led by the United States and the United Kingdom.
At least 11 newsmen have been killed by the coalition forces in the 21 days since the invasion began.
The journalists poured scorn on the Anglo-American alliance for targeting and killing newsmen in the military conflict which was initiated after bypassing the United Nations.
They termed the killings a violation of international law which protected newsmen discharging their duties in times of war.
In Karachi, newsmen marched to the US Consulate on Abdullah Haroon Road from the Karachi Press Club. Holding banners and placards inscribed with anti-US slogans, they staged a sit-in in front of the US Consulate as law-enforcement agencies’ personnel stood nearby. The protest, organized by the Karachi Union of Journalists, was addressed by KPC President Sabihuddin Ghausi and Secretary Khurshid Abbasi and All Pakistan Newspaper Employees’ Confederation President Abdul Hameed Chhapra.
The speakers demanded that the coalition forces pull back from Iraq and stop killing civilians. They also asked the government to condemn US aggression.
In Islamabad, over 150 local journalists, as well as Arab newsmen, staged a demonstration in front of the United Nations building to condemn the killing of journalists and civilians in Iraq at the hand of the coalition forces.
The demonstrators chanted slogans against the US for killing journalists. They presented a memorandum to UN officials, demanding formation of an independent tribunal comprising journalists to look into the killing of newsmen in Iraq.
In Peshawar, the Khyber Union of Journalists also staged a protest demonstration in front of the Peshawar Press Club. They criticized US President George Bush and UK Prime Minister Tony Blair for whipping up war hysteria.
In Lahore, the President of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists expressed shock at the killing of journalists in Iraq. I.H. Raashed said that under international law war correspondents and cameramen were entitled to protection.
CPNE: President of the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) Mujibur Rahman Shami and general-secretary Mahmudul Aziz have in a statement condemned the wanton killing of journalists in Iraq by the US-led forces.
They said in spite of all the excuses and explanations given by the US military high command it was envious that these attacks especially in Baghdad were deliberate and meant to silence objective reporting. It was in total violation of all norms of international law.
