PESHAWAR, Oct 1: The journalist community of the provincial capital held a protest demonstration in front of the Customs House here on Tuesday and demanded of the government to take immediate action against the officials responsible for roughing up newsmen and photographers and snatching their equipment two days ago.

The demonstration was held under the auspices of the Khyber Union of Journalists (KhUJ), Peshawar Press Club (PPC), All Pakistan Newspapers Employees Confederation (Apnec) and Hawkers Association.

A large number of newsmen gathered at the Peshawar Press Club from where they marched towards the Customs House. They were raising slogans against the customs officials.

Journalists staged a sit-in in front of the Customs House, where the protesters were addressed by PPC President Intikhab Amir, PhKU chief Javed Aziz Khan, Apnec President Sharif Mohmand and Hawkers Association chief Haji Haleem Jan.

The speakers demanded of the government to withdraw cases against the four journalists and take stern action the customs officials involved in manhandling of mediamen.

They lamented that on the one hand the government was speaking about the freedom of the press, but on the other it allowed the law enforcement agencies to stop them from exposing the corruption.

If the newsmen were harassed and beaten up by the government officials, how could they perform their duty without fear or favour, they asked.

“There is no doubt that customs officials are involved in corruption as bara markets all over the country are a glaring example of customs officials connivance with the smugglers,” they charged.

They urged the government to take action against the officials concerned and directed them to refrain from such actions which earned a bad name for the country abroad.

Meanwhile, PPC President Intikhab Amir has sent a letter to President Pervez Musharraf, requesting him to take action against the government officials for attacking five journalists who were busy in covering a demonstration by the minority community in front of the Peshawar Press Club.

The journalists — Tanzeelur Rehman of daily Jang, Amjad Aziz Malik of Geo channel, Waheedullah Khan of The Statesman daily, Azam Khan of daily Ausaf and Raja Imran Mehr Chaudhry of daily Express were covering the rally, when a vehicle of Customs Mobile Squad No 1 stopped an auto-rickshaw near the press club that was carrying smuggled tyres.

The customs personnel started “wheeling and dealing” with the man in the rickshaw. The photographers were attracted to the scene and someone took snaps. This infuriated the customs personnel who attacked and manhandled the newsmen.