Black Day Journalists, students demand investigation into attack on media

Claim profession’s interest lies in working together.


Our Correspondent September 03, 2014

ISLAMABAD:


A high number of journalists and civil society members gathered at the National Press Club on Tuesday to condemn the recent murder of journalists in Quetta as well as the attacks on journalists and media houses during the ongoing protests in the Red Zone.


Protesters asked the government to conduct a thorough investigation of all incidents of violence and termed the day a ‘Black Day’.

“This is not an attack on one particular group but an attack on the freedom of press” said Bilal Dar, the general secretary of the Islamabad Rawalpindi Union of Journalists.  Dar said while clashes were ongoing between protesters and police late Saturday, journalists on duty covering the event were singled out and targeted. “Those who flashed their press cards to the police were deliberately attacked” said Dar.



He said after updating the series of events of injuries of 30 journalists were uploaded on the social media, several others added their incidents taking the count to much more than what was being reported initially.

Dar said the attack on media houses, journalists and damaged equipment of TV channels must be compensated and those responsible for the brutal act of targetting journalists must be identified and an inquiry must be conducted.

“Government needs to issue warnings to the police and those responsible for such brutal acts” said Dar, adding that “Journalists are always sandwiched in situations such like this.”

Human rights activist Farzana Bari spoke about journalists in Pakistan working on minimal salaries while reporting in war-like circumstances without proper equipment and gear were risking their lives to portray the true picture.

Mohammad Malick, the chief of Pakistan Television, said we need to take journalism back in our hands.



Naeem Mirza of Aurat Foundation said human rights defenders have always condemned attacks on the media and stands by journalists in such difficult times. “We express great solidarity with journalists. The use of force from government, political and religious groups should be condemned,” he said.

Rana Jawad, the bureau chief Geo News in Islamabad, while speaking about a recent incident of an attack on a female journalist, said while she was under attack, other news channels came to her rescue. “Such incidents remind us that journalists are together irrespective of which organisation they belong to,” he said.

Sheryar Khan, president of the Islamabad Press Club, said the media is being divided in two.

Another group of students gathered at the National Press Club joined the journalists’ protest. Addressing participants, students said the country’s future was linked to promotion of democratic values, particularly restraint and tolerance. Expressing concern over the ongoing political standoff, they cautioned against extra-constitutional action by non-political and undemocratic forces. About the current political situation, speakers said protesting is the democratic right of every citizen, however, it must not translate into threatening the security of state installations.

They criticised the breach of Red Zone and march on the prime minister’s house, saying protesters should not have wielded sticks and slingshots if they intended to be peaceful.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 3rd, 2014.

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