PESHAWAR, Nov 14: Journalists across the NWFP on Wednesday held protest rallies and set up hunger strike camps in protest against the imposition of the state of emergency and curbs on the media.

The Khyber Union of Journalists set up a hunger strike camp outside the Peshawar Press Club on the call of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists.

A large number of journalists observed a four-hour token hunger strike and chanted slogans against regime’s dictatorial measures.

Leaders of different political parties visited the hunger strike camp and expressed solidarity with the journalists.

KhUJ general-secretary Nasir Hussain on the occasion said that media personnel’s peaceful and just struggle would continue till the withdrawal of curbs on the press and politics.

Activists of the People’s Students Federation took out a procession from the Institute of Management Sciences, University of Peshawar, to the University Law College. They chanted slogans against the military rulers and demanded immediate withdrawal of the state of emergency. They called upon the student community to join the peaceful protest against the military regime.

The activists of Islami Jamiat Talaba also held a protest rally on the university campus. The IJT campus nazim condemned the imposition of emergency, suspension of superior court judges, arrest of lawyers and curbs on the media.

He said that students would continue their struggle against the military regime.

In Kohat, journalists supported by lawyers and political workers took out a procession from the Tehsil Gate and gathered at the Royal bakery square.

They raised slogans against the government for imposing the emergency and muzzling the press in the country.

Speakers criticised the government policies and asked Gen Pervez Musharraf to step down. They alleged that the government itself had created unrest in the country and used it as an excuse for imposing the emergency and continuation of Gen Musharraf’s rule.

They said they would continue their struggle till the lifting of emergency and curbs on the media, reinstatement of judges, release of political leaders and removal of Gen Musharraf.

In Mardan, journalists held a rally and set up a protest camp at the Mardan Press Club and condemned curbs on private TV channels.