PFUJ camps outside PEMRA, calls for an end to ARY ban

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 29 August 2022

The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists has initiated protests against the ban on ARY News transmission. They argue that the ban is unjust and detrimental to many employees.

Summary

ISLAMABAD—On Monday, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) began a protest campaign to press for the resumption of ARY News' transmission.

The union and the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) set up a protest camp outside the regulator PEMRA's Islamabad headquarters.

The unions saw the ARY ban as 'illegal and unjust' and slammed PEMRA and its chairman for the uncalled-for curbs.

The channel has been off cable networks since August 8 after it aired a comment by PTI leader Shahbaz Gill, which the authorities believed was inciting mutiny within the armed forces.

PFUJ President Afzal Butt criticized the decision and pointed to the 4000 ARY employees facing joblessness. He called for an immediate resumption of the channel's transmission.

President of National Press Club Anwar Raza said it was a pity that ARY News wasn't being put back on the airwaves despite the Sindh High Court order. "The court must establish its writ," he said.

Raza thought that PEMRA was dilly-dallying to prolong the ARY ban. He said how the regulator could claim the cable operators had blocked the channel. "They fall under PEMRA."

PFUJ has announced that its protests will continue daily. Journalists also protested outside PEMRA's regional offices elsewhere.

KEY POINTS:

• PFUJ protests outside PEMRA headquarters in Islamabad.
• The ARY News ban has been in effect since August 8, 2022.
• 4000 employees of ARY News are facing joblessness due to the ban.
• Sindh High Court has ordered the resumption of ARY, but it remains off the air.
• Protests will continue daily until the ban is lifted.