In solidarity: Punjab Assembly deplores attack

PFUJ gives government 72 hours to arrest the culprits.

PESHAWAR/ LAHORE/ KARACHI:

The Punjab Assembly on Tuesday passed a unanimous resolution in condemnation of Monday’s attack on the Express Media Group’s offices in Karachi.

Leader of Opposition
Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed tabled the resolution, stating that the house condemned the gun and bomb attack on the media outlet’s office.

The draft demanded that the Sindh government arrest the culprits and provide security to media houses. Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah seconded the resolution and said that the treasury benches supported the move.

Separately, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), Punjab Union of Journalists and Lahore Press Club boycotted the proceedings of the Punjab Assembly and staged a protest in the assembly’s premises to show solidarity with the Express Media Group. Media persons, journalist organisations, political and social personalities and writers took part in the protests and demanded that immediate action be taken against those responsible for the attack. The protesters said they would call country-wide protests and sit-ins if the culprits are not arrested within 72 hours.

Protest in Sindh

The attack was also denounced by journalists as well as political, religious and nationalist outfits and the business community in Sindh.

Several journalist organisations, including Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ), Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), Hyderabad Press Club, Sukkur Union of Journalists (Indus) and others staged protests on Tuesday.

Political parties, including Pakistan Peoples Party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf as well as trade unions and nationalist parties joined the protests, to show their solidarity with media professionals. The main protest was staged outside the Karachi Press Club.

“It is our common issue. Our voice is united and no one can suppress it,” said Amin Yousuf, the general secretary of the PFUJ. He was of the view that some institutions wanted to control the freedom of expression. “Their hidden agenda won’t ever materialise,” he said.

Addressing the gathering, KUJ president GM Jamali said the protests across the country were not against the attack but against the government which had failed to provide security to journalists. “We have been striving hard for democratic forces in the country and are being attacked,” he added.

The CPNE secretary general condemned government’s failure to provide security to journalists, saying that it was not playing its due role. “Media persons are committed to their work and will continue their struggle for the freedom of expression.”

Meanwhile, Imran Sahil, Perwez Khan, Rasheed Raza and others of Sukkur, Ishaque Mangrio of the Hyderabad Press Club and prominent media persons in different cities staged protests outside the press clubs and also held urgent meetings on the recent attack.

Protest in K-P

Journalists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also held protests across the province against Monday’s attack on the Express Media Group’s offices in Karachi.

Journalists from Peshawar Press Club and Khyber Union of Journalists gathered outside the press club on Tuesday. The protest was led by the president of the press club, Nasir Hussain, and the union’s general secretary, Yousaf Ali.

Similar protests were held in Kohat and Sakhakot, where the former general secretary of the Awami National Party from Malakand issued a statement expressing grave concern over the security of journalists.

Journalists also protested outside Dargai Press Club. In Batkhela, journalists and press club chairperson, Rab Nawaz Saghar condemned the attack and chanted slogans against the government.  In Mardan, Khyber-Pakhtunkwa Aman Jirga chief Sayed Kamal Shah said the attack was a warning for other media organisations. A protest was also held in DI Khan.


Published in The Express Tribune, December 4^th, 2013.