November 12, 2007	Monday	Ziqa’ad 01, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Nov 11: On the call of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), mediapersons’ protest against closure of independent TV channels and violence against their colleagues continued for the third day here on Sunday.

The Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) had set up a protest camp outside the Geo TV office.

Leaders of Pakistan People’s Party Syed Taj Haider and Fauzia Wahab; deputy secretary general Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, former federal minister J. Salik and former bureaucrat Roedad Khan also visited the protest camp to express solidarity with the journalists.

Speaking on the occasion, Taj Haider said the PPP had launched struggle for freedom of the press with the PFUJ in the past and would continue to do so in the future. He observed that a free media was essential for holding of free and fair elections.

He urged the government to stop denying access to information to the people by a blackout of independent TV channels.

Maulana Haideri also asked the government to withdraw all restrictions it had imposed on the media. He said the government should allow the media to function independently without any pressure.

Those who spoke on the occasion and staged a sit-in included PFUJ secretary-general Mazhar Abbas, senior vice-president Fauzia Shahid, RIUJ president Afzal Butt, senior vice-president Shahryar Khan, C. R. Shamsi, Waqar Satti, president Rawalpindi-Islamabad Press Club Mushtaq Minhas, Absar Alam, Mazhar Barlas and Jamil Mirza besides scores of other journalists.

Mr Mazhar Abbas said the amendments to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) and Press and Publications Ordinance would directly affect journalists.

He said the owners of TV channels were being called to Pemra to pressure them to expel certain anchorpersons. He, however, said the TV channels could not be restored, as the Pakistan Broadcasters Association had refused to bow down to the pressure.

He said even if the TV channel owners succumbed to the government pressure at some stage, the PFUJ would continue its protest against the black laws.

Mr Afzal Butt said PFUJ’s struggle spread over 50 years. He said it was the mediapersons who had stood against every dictator in the past.