March 17, 2007	Saturday	Safar 27, 1428

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PESHAWAR, March 16: Journalists held a demonstration here on Friday to express solidarity with lawyers in their struggle for independence of judiciary. Members of the Khyber Union of Journalists, who held the demonstration outside the Peshawar Press Club, also deplored the “new restrictions” on the electronic and print media covering the judicial crisis.

Carrying placards inscribed with slogans supporting press freedom and independence of judiciary, journalists marched up to the Peshawar High Court building where they were received by lawyers who were on a hunger strike. The volunteers of Aurat Foundation were with them.

KhUJ president Jan Afzal, secretary Nasir Hussain and Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists’ executive committee member Abdul Qadoos led the procession.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Afzal assured the lawyers of the journalists’ support in their struggle. It was time to raise a voice against the “tyranny of rulers who had no respect for the Constitution, a free media and an independent judiciary”, he said.

Mr Afzal said the government wanted a “docile press” which could serve their interests. He criticised the government for imposing fresh restrictions on the media and said the same were unacceptable to them.

He said the government should learn from Pakistan’s history and refrain from posing a threat to the very existence of the country.

He said the community of journalists would never compromise on freedom of the press, rights of the people and independence of judiciary.

Welcoming the protesting journalists, a senior lawyer and leader of the People’s Party Parliamentarians, Mohammad Khurshid Khan, said the journalists’ support had strengthened the legal community.

“We will continue the struggle for restoration of the Constitution, rule of law, people’s rights, reinstatement of Justice Iftikhar and a free press in the country. The dictators are doomed to flee the country sooner or later,” he claimed.

The authorities had closed down the Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum Road, which leads towards the Governor House and the Chief Minister’s House, by erecting barbed wire and deploying heavy contingents of police.