February 17, 2007	Saturday	Muharram 28, 1428

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FAISALABAD, Feb 16: President Pervez Musharraf’s scheduled address to a public meeting at Iqbal Stadium here on Saturday (today) will be a painful reminder to many reporters of anti-press slogans by Governor Khalid Maqbool followed by police baton charge at a similar event at the same venue five years ago. The inquiry into the police brutality, which left 23 newsmen injured, is still pending.

The president on April 14, 2002, had also selected the same venue to address a public gathering for his referendum when reporters had protested following Maqbool’s remarks against the media.

Prior to the address of the president, the governor had accused reporters of misreporting the response of masses towards Musharraf’s rallies.

He said that “fake” reports regarding the public attendance in the rallies were being published which would invite the public wrath. He also asked the people to join him in slogans of “shame, shame” to denounce “misreporting and irresponsible attitude of the press”. His remarks enraged the reporters sitting in the media gallery who also chanted slogans “shame on the governor” and staged a walk out from the rally.

Fearing the ‘wrath of the president’, police baton charged reporters outside the Iqbal Stadium which left 23 reporters injured. Reporters staged a demonstration and called the incident an attack on press freedom.

Two inquiry committees — one by the Punjab inspector general and the other by the Punjab government headed by the district and sessions court judge — were also set up to investigate the matter. The victims had also recorded their statements before committee members, but to no avail.

Pakistan Federal Union of Journalist’s Javed Ahmed Siddique told Dawn that since police was party to the case, the inquiry of the case was still pending with both committees. He claimed the reporters were also being pressured by senior police officials for reconciliation.

“We set up a protest camp at the press club for 60 days and refused compensation by the government only to seek justice,” he added. He said then information minister Nisar Memon had assured action against the police. An application was also moved with the Civil Lines police in which case registration was demanded against the governor and police personnel involved in the incident.

BAR: The District Bar Association (DBA) announced a black day on Saturday to register its protest against government failure to establishment a Lahore High Court bench in Faisalabad.

DBA president Tanveer Randhawa and Punjab Bar Council member Arshad Ali Warraich told Dawn that Gen Pervez Musharraf had promised during his 2002 visit that the bench would be set up in the city.

They said DBA members had no option but to protest against the failure of the government. “The DBA will hoist a black flag atop its building and members will wear black armbands. No member will attend court proceedings after 10am,” they added. Tanveer said a protest rally would start from the DBA and terminate at the Clock Tower intersection.