May 6, 2005	Friday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 26, 1426

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QUETTA, May 5: Journalists in Balochistan observed a black day on Thursday in protest against manhandling and arrest of newsmen and newspaper workers in Islamabad on the International Press Freedom Day on May 3. Newsmen wore black armbands as a mark of protest and expressed solidarity with their fellow journalists who were arrested and manhandled by police during a demonstration in front of the Parliament House.

The Balochistan Union of Journalists (BUJ) held a protest meeting in the Quetta Press Club. It strongly condemned the police action and described it as “brutality against the fourth pillar of the state”.

Union president Razaur Rehman, presiding over the meeting, strongly criticized the attitude of the government towards journalists. The meeting unanimously adopted a resolution condemning the police action. “Police action against journalists is an attack on the freedom of press,” resolution said and added that the demonstration was in accordance with law. It said the newsmen wanted to register their protest against non-implementation of the wage board award.

“Disallowing a demonstration and manhandling of journalists are violation of the Constitution,” the resolution said. It demanded strict action against the government officials and policemen responsible for the action. The resolution urged the journalist community to get united in the struggle for their rights.

The meeting also expressed concern over an incident of firing on the editor of the Balochistan Times, Mohammad Iqbal, and called upon the government to take steps to arrest the culprits. The newsman was injured in the attack. It also expressed concern over delay in providing medical aid to the injured editor in the civil hospital.