ARD slams govt action against media

Published June 5, 2007

NAWABSHAH, June 4: President of the Sindh chapter of the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD), Zain Ansari, has condemned government action against media and said that it shows the government’s fear of facing the truth.

Mr Ansari who is also a leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz told journalists at the residence of Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah, district president of PML-N, on Sunday that the alliance was struggling to oust generals from the politics. If they really wanted to do politics they must first shed their uniforms, he stressed.

He said that conditions in the country were getting from bad to worse with each passing day with no constitution in sight and law of jungle in every sphere of the government.

He believed Ms Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif would soon return to their homeland and said that the decision about awarding tickets for general elections would be made in consultation with district presidents of the party.

Journalists: The journalists of Nawabshah have condemned blocking of transmission of some private TV channels.

President Nawabshah Press Club Mohammad Anwar Shaikh, vice president Mohammad Ismail Domki, secretary Zulfiqar Memon, joint secretary Ameer Ali Chandio and treasurer Syed Atif Zaidi during a meeting on Monday condemned the blocking of transmission of some private channels allegedly on verbal orders of the ministry.

They said media and press were being pressurized by the government. They further said that journalists were being threatened of dire consequences which showed insecurity and instability of the government.

They expressed the resolve to remain committed towards their profession.

Meanwhile, members of different political parties and associations including the PPP, the Jamat-e-Islami, the Traders’ Union, the Mobile Phone Action Committee and Sarafa Union also condemned the blocking of TV transmissions and demanded of the government to end this practice.

25 BOOKED: Police on Monday booked about 25 people on charges of attacking and injuring a party of law enforcers when they were performing official duties.

Investigation officer of Mari Jalbani police station Mansoor Ahmed Memon lodged an FIR under sections 324, 337-H/2, 353, 504, 148, 149 PPC against the 25 people whom he charged with attacking them with clubs and iron rods in Ali Bux Sanjrani village.He said that as soon as he and other policemen entered the village on Sunday to investigate about a case the accused attacked them.

Police have arrested Ghulam Nabi, Mohammad Juman and Darya Khan.