Journalists rally against Kashmir communications shutdown

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 28 August 2019

Journalists in Pakistan have rallied against the communications blackout in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Organized by the PFUJ, they condemned the media persecution by the Indian government.

Summary

Pakistani journalists have staged a series of protests to demand an end to the persecution of local media in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

The rallies — organized by IFJ affiliate the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) — condemned the Modi government in India for the communications blackout which has been imposed on the region since early August.

Up to 500 journalists from cities across the country staged several rallies, including at the Lahore Press Club and outside Parliament House in Islamabad in conjunction with the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ).

Speakers condemned the impact of the communications blackout on journalists’ ability to do their work and on media’s ability to publish or broadcast and thanked the IFJ for highlighting concerns over the persecution of local journalists and disinformation.

IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said: “The IFJ continues to call for the ending of the communications shutdown and for the right of all journalists to work free from threat and harassment”.— IFJ media release/Photo: AFP

KEY POINTS:

• Protests held by Pakistani journalists against Kashmir communications shutdown.
• Organized by Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ).
• Rallies took place in Lahore and Islamabad with up to 500 participants.
• Speakers highlighted the adverse effects on media operations.
• IFJ calls for an end to harassment of journalists.