GUJRAT: The journalists fraternity from across the country staged a protest by blocking the GT Road near Chan Da Qila in Gujranwala against the police action to stop Opposition Leader in National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan from attending the meeting of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) on Friday.

However, following the protest and negotiations with the union’s leadership, the local authorities let Ayub participate in the journalists’ meeting and make an address.

It was the first day of the PFUJ’s federal executive council (FEC) meeting in a private hotel in the city and the even would continue until Sunday (July 21).

Omar Ayub was invited by the PFUJ to participate in the first day’s session but a heavy contingent of police reached the venue, telling the organisers that the PTI leader would not be allowed to attend the event. At this, the journalists, led by PFUJ President Afzal Butt and General Secretary Arshad Ansari, came out of the venue and launched a protest against the police action.

The protesters blocked both sides of the GT Road, throwing the traffic out of gear and chanting slogans against the police. The PFUJ leadership told the police that leaders from all political parties had been invited to the event, including former federal minister Khurram Dastgir Khan of the PML N who attended the first session and also addressed the participants.

After successful negotiations between police and the PFUJ, the former removed the barriers and let Mr Ayub attend the event while the latter ended the protest.

Earlier, the police had also detained the manager of the hotel where the PFUJ event was being held.

Published in Dawn, July 20th, 2024