JournalismPakistan.com | Published March 05, 2013
Join our WhatsApp channel
LAHORE: A hunger strike by seven council members of Lahore Press Club (LPC) entered the second day Tuesday.
The striking members are camped outside the Punjab Assembly, pressing for allotment of plots in a journalists’ housing society in Harbanspura.
They claim about 295 LPC members were promised plots by the government in the society’s F-Block in 2007, but owning these was still a dream for them.
Sher Afzal Butt, a protesting member told JournalismPakistan.com on phone that some government representatives had asked them to call off the strike and discuss the matter across the table. "We have been duped in by authorities many a time; but now we will settle for nothing else than clear proof of land transfer in our society's name."
Butt said they were not seeking alms. “Owning a plot in the housing colony is the right of every LPC council member, granted under section 7(1) of The Punjab Journalists Housing Foundation Act 2004.”
He pointed out they were told by the LPC leadership the government had allocated Rs300 million for land acquisition for this purpose but this amount was lying unused.
LPC President Arshad Ansari, Secretary Zulfiqar Mehtu, Treasurer Afzal Talib, governing body member Nasira Ateeq and around 100 journalists visited the camp Tuesday to express solidarity with the protesters. Two of the protesters, Sudhir Chaudhry and Asif Butt, are also members of LPC governing body.
The timing of the hunger strike is crucial with the Punjab Assembly likely to meet for an important session within days. Some people think there could be a clash if the administrative machinery tried to clear the area and remove the hunger strike camp forcefully.
June 11, 2025: Pakistan celebrated a narrow win over Bangladesh, but beneath the jubilation lies a deeper crisis—from sidelined veterans to a collapsing domestic structure—signaling an urgent need for cricket reform.
June 11, 2025: Journalists walked out of the post-budget press conference in Islamabad to protest the absence of a technical briefing and the government's dismissive behavior, calling it unacceptable and intolerable.
May 31, 2025: Dr. Nauman Niaz has issued a defamation notice to Shoaib Akhtar over derogatory remarks made during a recent broadcast, reigniting a longstanding media feud between the two prominent figures in Pakistan.
May 30, 2025: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has demanded the full repeal of PECA, citing its vague language, coercive powers, and threats to free speech and digital rights in Pakistan.
May 30, 2025: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has condemned the murder of journalist Syed Mohammed Shah in Jacobabad, calling for urgent justice and improved safety for media professionals in Sindh.
May 26, 2025: In Rawalpindi, police allegedly side with Jang Group to block 66 reinstated employees from resuming work despite court orders, drawing sharp criticism from unions and press freedom advocates.
May 25, 2025: PFUJ condemns the Jang Group's decision to dismiss over 80 employees in Rawalpindi, calling it an 'economic massacre.' The union warns of nationwide protests if workers are not reinstated.
May 25, 2025: Daily Jang Rawalpindi has terminated over 80 employees, including female staff, despite multiple court rulings in their favor—raising concerns over labor rights violations and misuse of authority in Pakistani media.
May 19, 2025 PJS reports 219 Palestinian journalists killed in Israeli attacks since October 7, with 30 women among the victims. Over 430 were injured and 685 family members were killed. Read more on the systematic targeting of media in Gaza.
May 15, 2025 Discover the legacy of Samiullah Khan, Pakistan’s legendary "Flying Horse," whose breathtaking speed and artistry redefined hockey. From Olympic glory to World Cup triumphs, his story is one of myth, movement, and magic.
May 04, 2025 Algerian authorities suspend Echorouk News TV for 10 days after it used a racist slur against African migrants. ANIRA demands an apology, calling it a violation of human dignity.
May 04, 2025 NCHR and MMfD launch a journalism fellowship to train reporters on digital rights & gender inclusion in Pakistan. Supported by UNESCO, this initiative aims to bridge the gender digital divide. Apply by May 15, 2025!
April 23, 2025 Discover Dr. Nauman Niaz’s In A Different Realm: Story of Quadruple & Triple Centuries 1876–2025, a profound exploration of cricket's most monumental innings, blending historical analysis with poetic narrative.