KARACHI, June 15: Journalists on Friday set up protest camps and held demonstrations to mark the Global Action Day for press freedom in Pakistan, on the first death anniversary of tribal journalist Hayatullah Khan, who was killed after having been kept in ‘captivity’ for six months.

According to a press release of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), international media watchdogs have sent letters to the President of

Pakistan, General Pervez Musharraf, calling for additional measures for the safety of journalists and unconditional withdrawal of the controversial amendments to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) Ordinance.

The PFUJ paid rich tribute to Hayatullah Khan and said he had been abducted, tortured and killed while performing his professional duty. It criticised the government for not making public the report of inquiry into the kidnapping and murder of Hayatullah Khan conducted by a Peshawar High Court Judge. It demanded arrest of the killers of Hayatullah, Munir Sangi, Maqbool Sial, Ismail Khan and Noor Hakim and withdrawal of cases registered against dozens of journalists with mala fide intent.

The day was observed in different parts of the country. A protest camp was set up outside the Parliament House in Islamabad, while protest demonstrations were held in others cities and towns.

President of the PFUJ, Syed Huma Ali, submitted a memorandum to the federal Information Minister Mohammad Ali Durrani during the latter’s visit to the camp. The minister said the government was committed to freedom of the press and would take measures to ensure journalists’ safety.

Protest demonstrations were also held in Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Faislabad, Quetta and Abbotabad.

Our reporter adds: Journalists held a protest demonstration on the stairs of the Sindh Assembly and handed over a memorandum to the Sindh Chief Minister, the Speaker of the Sindh Assembly and the leader of the opposition, expressing deep concern over increasing threats to journalists, non-implementation of the seventh wage award and laws aimed at curbing freedom of the press. They also staged a token walkout to register their protest.

Journalists chanted slogans against coercive measures and increasing dangers faced by journalists and the growing restraints on the functioning of the media in the country. They also criticised registration of sedition cases against Mukesh Rupeta and Sanjay Kumar.