Walkout in protest: Journalists halt coverage of Balochistan Assembly

Media personnel wore black armbands, observed a ‘black day’


Shezad Baloch August 31, 2014

QUETTA:


Journalists halted coverage of the Balochistan Assembly’s proceedings on Saturday in protest against the brutal killings of senior journalist Irshad Mastoi, reporter Mohammed Rasul Khajak and an accountant Mohammed Younus, who were targeted in their office at Online news agency on Wednesday.


Journalists walked out from the Press Gallery to register their protest and staged a sit-in outside the Balochistan Assembly building. The sit-in continued for more than two hours. However, legislators ignored the protest and the Balochistan Assembly speaker made no request to hold talks with those protesting. The assembly session continued as per routine.

The protesting journalists wore black armbands to observe a ‘black day’ announced by the Balochistan Union of Journalists (BUJ). They raised slogans against the government for its failure to fulfill its constitutional responsibility by protecting the life and property of the people.

“At least 43 journalists have been killed in the line of duty in Balochistan in the last six to seven years and not a single murder was investigated fully,” said the vice president of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, Saleem Shahid. “The government does not have its writ in Balochistan, and murderers here carry out deadly attacks even in city areas with complete impunity.” The BUJ president said there is ‘total apathy’ from the government on the issue.

The protesting journalists say they will not report assembly proceedings and government programmes until those involved in the killings are arrested. There has been no statement and not a single assembly member spoke with the protesters. “There will be a full boycott of the government of Balochistan,” the BUJ announced.

Last rites

Journalist Irshad Mastoi was laid to rest in the graveyard near Numaish Ground in Jacobabad Friday evening. Mastoi and two colleagues were shot dead by armed men at Kabeer Centre in Quetta three days ago. Irshad’s body was brought to Jacobabad from Quetta on Friday afternoon.

His body was laid to rest amid hundreds of mourners, including journalists and locals, in his hometown.  Irshad, the bureau chief of Online news agency and assignment editor of a private news channel, left behind a widow, two daughters and a son.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 31st, 2014.

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