PESHAWAR, May 4: Journalists on Wednesday took out a procession from the Peshawar Press Club and marched to the Governor’s House protesting against Tuesday’s police attack on media personnel in Islamabad and Lahore. The rally was organised by the Photojournalists Forum in solidarity with the journalists of Islamabad and Lahore who were beaten and arrested by police commandos when they held a procession on the World Press Freedom Day.

Carrying placards and banners, the slogan-chanting newsmen and photographers marched up to the Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum Road and staged a sit-in outside the main gate of the Governor’s House.

Speaking on the occasion, the journalists criticized what they called the “apologetic stance” of the federal information minister on the ugly incidents. They observed that Islamabad was the world’s only capital where peaceful journalists were attacked by police.

They accused the government of siding with newspaper owners in their bid to avoid implementation of the 7th Wage Board Award for newspaper workers.

The protesters later dispersed peacefully.

The Muttahida Labour Federation also condemned the police action against peaceful rallies of journalists in Islamabad and Lahore.

MLF president Gul Rehman, in a statement on Wednesday, described the beating of journalists as the “worst kind of state terrorism”.

He said the government made tall claims about press freedom in the country but it was not ready to allow peaceful processions on the World Press Freedom Day.

He said Tuesday’s incidents had exposed the real face of the government.

He said the labour organizations stood by journalists in their protest against state terrorism and their struggle against illiteracy.