A ray of hope for protesting journalists

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 9 March 2013

Journalists in Lahore continue their protest, now on the sixth day of a hunger strike, demanding land promised to them. The Punjab government has indicated it will address these demands imminently.

Summary

LAHORE: A group of protesting journalists marched to the Chief Minister’s office on Mall Road Saturday (the sixth day of their hunger strike) to press for fulfillment of their demands.

The protesters are demanding allotment of promised plots in F Block of Journalists' Housing Society and arrest of culprits who opened fire on their camp Friday.

A report has been registered with the Civil Lines police station regarding the firing incident.

Muhammad Asif Butt, member of the Lahore Press Club (LPC) governing body, is the complainant whereas eye witnesses include Sher Afzal Butt, Javed Yousaf Butt, Zahid Shafiq Tayyab, Habib Chohan, Rana Imran, Sabir Subhani and Kausar Shamsi.

LPC President Arshad Ansari who joined the protest announced that the Punjab government has promised to issue a notification Monday (March 11), regarding acquisition of land for F Block, under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act and its transfer to the Journalists' Housing Foundation.

"If this does not happen, hundreds of LPC members will march towards the Punjab assembly building and protest right in front of it until these demands are met," he said.

He also announced the lists carrying names of new LPC members will not be released till the time the issues of F Block affectees are resolved.

KEY POINTS:

• Journalists marched to the Chief Minister's office in Lahore.
• They are on a hunger strike to demand plots in F Block of Journalists' Housing Society.
• A police report has been filed regarding a shooting incident at their camp.
• LPC President announced a government promise to act on land acquisition soon.
• Protesters threatened to escalate actions if their demands are not met.