ISLAMABAD, March 17: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has called for the formation of an independent judicial commission headed by a judge of the High Court to investigate the attack on GEO TV’s Islamabad offices.
In a joint statement on Saturday, Huma Ali, President of PFUJ, and Secretary-General Mazhar Abbas, said the commission should include one member each from the Pakistan Bar Council and the media.
The PFUJ rejected the government’s move of an inquiry by an additional district and sessions judge.
The journalists’ body said the government should match its apology with a `strong action’. It dismissed as a `cosmetic measure’ the suspension of a few constables and an inspector, urging the government to catch the minds behind the attack.
The PFUJ said the suspension of petty officials was a negation of the promise made by President Pervez Musharraf to bring the `real culprits’ to justice.
The statement said the PFUJ was in touch with international bodies representing journalists’ interests, human rights organisations, the APNS and the CPNE to chart a plan for ensuring the implementation of Article 19 of the Constitution which guarantees freedom of expression.
The statement condemned the government’s interference in the working of media organisations
The PFUJ asked the government to refrain from attacking the fourth pillar of the state, saying that complaints of harassment of journalists were rising day by day.
The All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (Apma) condemned the attack on the offices of GEO TV and termed it state repression at its worst.
Apma chief Shahbaz Bhatti said the minorities were with the journalists in their struggle for the right to dissent.
The Pakistan Professionals Forum (PPF) also condemned the police action against GEO TV.
In a statement, PPF President Asif Luqman Qazi said the police even did not spare eminent professionals, subjecting senior doctors, engineers, lawyers and educationists to `brutal torture’.
