December 10, 2007	Monday	Ziqa'ad 29, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Dec 9: The Student Action Committee has announced that it will give another nationwide call for action in the immediate aftermath of the lifting of emergency on December 15 until all the other demands of the movement were accepted by the government.

It condemned the ongoing repression on students and other pro- democracy forces, particularly students and lawyers arrested from outside Justice Shahid Siddiqui’s home in Lahore.

Convener of the committee’s Rawalpindi/Islamabad chapter, Alia Amirali, said students and other pro-democracy forces believed that just like when Gen Musharraf took off his uniform the lifting of emergency on December 15 did not represent a meaningful step towards democratisation.

She said the students’ principled demands for a complete withdrawal of the Army from politics, restoration of the pre- November 3 judiciary, freedom of the media, restoration of student unions and an end to the class system of education remained intact and that the struggle of students would not cease on December 15.

She pointed out that all political parties willing to participate in what were sure to be completely compromised elections would effectively be shooting themselves in the foot besides betraying the thousands of lawyers, political workers, journalists and students on the street for genuine change.

Meanwhile, a protest camp was set up outside Rawalpindi- Islamabad Press Club’s camp office on Sunday under the aegis of Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists against media curbs and controversial amendments to Pemra and the registration of press and publications ordinances.

Speaking on the occasion, RIUJ president Afzal Butt said the media in Pakistan was facing worst state oppression. He called for independence of judiciary, restoration of the constitution and the fundamental human rights.

He said the journalists would continue their struggle till the black laws meant to muzzle the press were abolished.