Condemnation: Journalists’ community outraged

“Journalists cannot be cowed down by such violent tactics,” says Peshawar Press Club President.

PESHAWAR/ LAHORE/ DI KHAN:

The journalists’ community strongly condemned Friday’s attack on the offices of Express Media in Karachi and staged protest demonstrations in all major cities and towns of the country.

The Punjab Union of Journalists (PUJ) protested outside the Punjab Assembly and set a seven-day deadline for the government to arrest the attackers. The protest was led by Lahore Press Club President Arshad Ansari and PUJ President Rana Muhammad Azeem.

Addressing the protest, Azeem threatened to go on strike, if the attackers were not arrested within a week. Meanwhile Lahore Press Club President Arshad Ansari said it was shameful that police could not arrest the perpetrators of the broad daylight attack.

Punjab Health Minister Khalil Tahir Sindhu assured the protesters of the provincial government’s support and said that the attackers would be brought to justice.

In Peshawar, journalists staged a demonstration outside the local press club. The protesters demanded the government ensure security and safety of working journalists. Peshawar Press Club President Nasim Hussain said, “Journalists cannot be cowed down by such violent tactics.”

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s spokesperson Shiraz Paracha also condemned the incident.

In Dera Ismail Khan, the Dera Association of Photo Journalists staged a protest rally. Participants said that the attack showed that the government has failed to protect journalists.

The journalist community organised similar protests in other major towns and cities of the country.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 17^th, 2013.