KARACHI, Nov 12: Protest meetings were held in all 38 units of the Karachi Union of Journalists on Monday to condemn imposition of emergency, curbs on the media and harassment of journalists.

Addressing the protesters, leaders of the journalist fraternity demanded an immediate lifting of the ban on TV channels and repeal of recent ordinances aimed at curbing press freedom.

The resolutions adopted at the meetings also condemned the treatment meted out to journalists and other staff of media organisations while covering various events pertaining to anti-emergency and anti-government protests.

They also slated the threats issued by government functionaries to media men, siege of press clubs elsewhere in the country and detention and harassment of press workers.

The resolutions deplored that the judiciary and other civil society organisations, including those of the journalist community, had all been affected by the Provisional Constitution Order (PCO) proclaimed by Gen Pervez Musharraf.

The KUJ members opposed any deal reportedly being negotiated between the government and certain media barons for the resumption of banned TV channels’ transmission, making it clear that a deal that curtailed press freedom would not be acceptable to journalists.

They also demanded implementation of the 7th Wage Award and urged their employers to join hands with them for press freedom.

Meanwhile, journalists belonging to certain news channels held a meeting at the KPC to join in the protest campaign as the KUJ units they belonged to remained closed due to the media ban.

They endorsed the resolutions adopted by other units.