LAHORE, Nov 20: A large number of journalists, in response to a country-wide protest call by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) against media curbs, staged a rally here on Tuesday.

The protesters carrying banners and placards inscribed with their slogans, marched from the Lahore Press Club up to the Punjab Assembly building on The Mall.

A heavy contingent of police first tried to stop them, but later gave in and accompanied the charged demonstrators.

Speaking to the protesters, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan director and former editor of The Pakistan Times IA Rahman said no country could progress with a gagged media.

He said the government was violating human rights by imposing curbs on the media, and vowed that newsmen would continue to lead the nation at this critical juncture.

Rights activist and former editor of The News Husain Naqi said the journalists’ movement was for the restoration of people’s rights.

He alleged that the army ruler was driving the country towards disintegration, and said terror acts within the country were being committed with the help of ‘sarkari jihadis’.

Daily Times editor Najam Sethi said whenever any ruler imposed restrictions, his/her days were numbered.

He wondered that how Gen Musharraf, who had been championing freedom of media, totally changed his policy during the last six months.

Punjab Union of Journalists President Arif Hameed Bhatti said the rulers could not tolerate the media which was presenting their true picture before 160 million Pakistanis.

He pledged that the journalists’ community would continue its struggle.