November 24, 2007	Saturday	Ziqa’ad 13, 1428

PESHAWAR, Nov 23: The community of journalists on Friday organised a demonstration against media curbs, removal of superior court judges, suspension of the Constitution and the imposition of a state of emergency in the country.

Journalists working for the print and electronic media, activists belonging to various NGOs and members of the Media Marketing Association took out a procession from the Peshawar Press Club, which after marching on the Shershah Suri Road, reached in front of the Governor’s House where they staged a sit-in in support of their demands.

Carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans against emergency rule, curbs on media and suspension of the Constitution, the protesters sat in front of the Governor’s House and chanted slogans against the military regime.

The protest was organised by the Khyber Union of Journalists (KhUJ) in order to inform the masses of the repressive measures taken by the rulers against independent-minded judges and media personnel.

Speaking on the occasion, KhUJ President Jan Afzal said their struggle for freedom of the press would continue till the acceptance of their just demands. He said his community had sided with the democratic forces to oust the military dictator, who had brought a bad name to the country by making it constitution-less.

KhUJ General-Secretary Nasir Hussain urged the political forces to come forward and join the struggle for restoration of democracy in Pakistan. He thanked civil society representatives for joining the protest demonstration.

Later, a Pakistan People’s Party delegation headed by former MPA Syed Zahir Ali visited the press club and expressed their solidarity with the journalists.

Syed Zahir said they had come to the club on the directives of party chairperson Benazir Bhutto to show solidarity with the KhUJ. Barrister Masood Kausar said the PPP had always sided with the genuine democratic forces in their struggle for rights.