September 17, 2007	Monday	Ramazan 04, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Sept 16: The Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) has withdrawn its call for protest on Monday (today) after Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Altaf Hussain tendered an unconditional apology to journalists.

The RIUJ had given a 24-hour ultimatum to the MQM to apologise over threatening statements, issued by Mr Hussain, against the media and had warned to launch a protest campaign from Monday in case they did not apologise.

Addressing MQM workers’ committee on Sunday, Mr Hussain said he held the journalistic community in high esteem and tendered an unconditional apology to all journalists, if his statement had hurt their feelings.

The RIUJ has welcomed Mr Hussain’s statement. In a joint statement, the RIUJ president, Afzal Butt, senior vice-president, Shahryar Khan, and general secretary, Ashfaq Sajid, said the RIUJ had no differences with any political party, but said the union would not tolerate any threatening statements against media- persons by any political party.

They urged all political parties to demonstrate a sense of accommodation in politics.