Demo condemns Punjab Assembly Resolution

By: Yasir Ilyas

ISLAMABAD, July 12, 2010: Lawyers, media and civil society staged a demonstration in front of Islamabad Press club to condemn the resolution adopted by Punjab Assembly the other day against media here on Monday.

A large number of people from all walks of life attended the demonstration representing civil society other than the members of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), Rawalpindi Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) and Lawyers of Rawalpindi High Court Bar and Rawalpindi District Bar.

Senior leader of Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N), Makhdoom Javed Hashmi, Federal Minister of State for Industries and Production, Ayat Ullah Durrani and Dr. Israr Shah of Pakistan Peoples Party also attended the demonstration to express their solidarity with the journalists.

Mr. Hashmi, in his address condemned the resolution. He said that journalists played greater role than politicians for restoring democracy in the country. He said that adopting such resolutions in a democratic regime is highly condemnable.

“I know that journalists contributed to get me free from jail through their pen.” He added.

Dr. Israr shah also termed this act as a step of dictatorial regime. He said that media is the fourth pillar of the state and that public will not tolerate any attack on the freedom of the media.

Earlier, Afzal Butt, the president of Islamabad Press Club (IPC), also spoke on the occasion and condemned the move of provincial assembly. He said that we are against the mindset which is afraid of independent media and judiciary. He further said that this move has once more united the three segments of the society, who struggled together for the independent judiciary i.e. Lawyers, Media and the civil society.

He said that government should realize that this is not the era of 70s or 80s, it’s the new century. He reiterated that journalists will continue their struggle for a genuine democracy in the country along with civil society and lawyers.

Later on, president of Rawalpindi High Court Bar, Zulfiqar Abbas Naqvi and president District Bar, Malik Waheed Anjum also addressed the gathering and condemned the resolution of Punjab Assembly and ensured the journalists of their unshakable support in the struggle for Independent media and judiciary