PFUJ gives government 24-hour deadline to act against those who beat up journalists

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 22 June 2017

The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists has demanded urgent action against assailants targeting media workers. This comes after multiple incidents of violence in Faisalabad and Islamabad. Protesters threaten to escalate their demonstrations if their demands are not met.

Summary

ISLAMABAD – Journalist union leaders Thursday gave a deadline of 24 hours to the government to take action against those who beat up journalists and media workers in separate incidents this week.

The announcement came during a demonstration staged by Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) and National Press Club Thursday.

The protesters gathered in front of National Press Club and condemned the violence on journalists and media workers and delay in registration of FIR against the vice chancellor of University of Agriculture, Faisalabad.

It was the second protest in two days.

In the first incident, guards at the University of Agriculture in Faisalabad beat at least nine journalists and media workers. On the same day, students at Madressah Haqqania, an Islamic school in Islamabad, assaulted a news crew from Din News, broke their camera, and damaged their van.

The university guards kicked and beat several journalists and media workers including Samaa TV reporters Yousaf Cheema and Mudasir Nazir, their cameraman Qadeer, and driver Irshad; Neo TV reporter Waqas Sheraz; Aaj TV journalist Raheel Asghar; Dunya TV reporter Shehroz Ebadi; Metro TV cameraman named in reports only as Javeed; and Express News cameraman Usman.

The union leaders demanded action against all those who beat up journalists.

They threatened to stage protest in front of the Parliament House, Prime Minister’s House and the Prime Minister’s Secretariat.

The demonstrators carried banners and posters inscribed with slogans.

PFUJ President Afzal Butt demanded immediate arrest of all those involved in thrashing journalists and media workers.

RIUJ General Secretary Ali Raza Alvi said that there were different set of laws for the rich and the poor.

KEY POINTS:

• PFUJ gives 24-hour ultimatum to the government.
• Protests held in Islamabad against violence on journalists.
• Incidents involved assaults at University of Agriculture, Faisalabad.
• Union leaders demand immediate arrests of assailants.
• Demonstrators threaten further protests at government sites.