LAHORE: Journalists in Lahore and other districts of Punjab took out on Saturday rallies and processions in protest against the Friday’s terrorist attack on the digital satellite news gathering (DSNG) van of DawnNews TV channel in Karachi that left an engineer injured.
Since it was the second such assault on media (after the one on Geo TV) in a short span of time, the journalists in Lahore, Gujranwala, Bahawalpur, Toba Tek Singh and other districts chanted slogans against the government for its failure to safeguard the community.
Journalists representing various media groups gathered outside the Lahore Press Club and condemned the attack, demanding the government to ensure their protection.
Carrying banners and placards, the protesters said the government had failed to protect lives and properties of the journalists.
Various journalist bodies, including LPC, Punjab Union of Journalists (PUJ), Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and beat reporters’ associations, members took part in the protest.
The protesters said though the government from time to time had been making tall claims with regard to protecting journalists, the attack on DawnNews van showed it was not serious in snubbing those behind such acts.
They warned if the culprits were not arrested within 24 hours, they would be left with no other option but to surround Punjab Assembly building.
GUJRANWALA: Local journalists took out a rally in protest against the attack in Karachi and demanded immediate arrest of attackers.
The rally started from the Press Club and after passing through various roads concluded at the same place. The protesters termed the attack an attempt to muffle the voice of truth.
BAHAWALPUR: On the call of PFUJ, Bahawalpur Union of Journalists staged a protest demonstration at Fowara Chowk here to condemn the attack.
The protesters raised slogans and questioned the security measures taken by the Sindh government to protect the journalists.
TOBA TEK SINGH: Journalists took out a rally to condemn the attack starting from Shahbaz Chowk where it later culminated after passing through different roads. The participants also staged a demonstration.
They demanded arrest of the culprits, besides protection of all journalists across the country.
A similar protest was held by local journalists at Sheikhupura.
Published in Dawn, November 29th, 2015