CPJ urges probe after journalist Rana Ayyub receives death threats in India Talat Hussain says offensive viral clip was edited out, not aired on Samaa TV Moldovan journalist Mariana Rață receives death threat after interview PFUJ recalls November 3, 2007 emergency as Pakistan’s darkest day Indonesia’s agriculture minister faces backlash over lawsuit against Tempo All About Macau to cease print and online operations amid mounting pressure PFUJ calls for end to Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists Global impunity for journalist murders worsens as Pakistan sees 60 percent rise in attacks Belarus court jails journalist Siarhei Chabotska for three-and-a-half years over 'extremism' charges Mexican journalist Miguel Angel Beltran found murdered; CPJ demands justice
Journalism Pakistan
Journalism Pakistan

Journalists boycott Punjab Assembly proceedings, demand minister's resignation

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published 6 years ago

Join our WhatsApp channel

Journalists boycott Punjab Assembly proceedings, demand minister's resignation

LAHORE – Journalists on Wednesday boycotted the proceedings of Punjab Assembly in protest against the provincial Information Minister Fayyazul Hassan Chohan’s thoughtless response to a reporter’s question, and demanded his resignation.

The members of the opposition in the assembly also joined the protest.

A joint action committee of journalists has announced staging another protest on Friday inside the Punjab Assembly compound.

Arshad Ansari, President of Lahore Press Club, who also heads the joint action committee, said in a statement that the minister (pictured) had joined PTI as an agent of Jamaat-i-Islami.

“The way he is continuously attacking the media shows that his agenda is to weaken the governments of Imran Khan and Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar.”

He said that Chohan especially wants closure of the news organizations in Punjab. But he warned that journalists would counter any such move.

The journalists also called for the resignation of Chohan as they chanted slogans. Provincial ministers Chaudhry Zaheeruddin and Samiullah Chaudhry later assured the protesters that Chohan would apologize for his remarks inside and outside the assembly.

During a memorial reference for late Qazi Hussain Ahmed on Tuesday, a journalist requested minister Chohan to respond to the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief’s statement alleging that PTI promise of turning the country into a Medina-like state is baseless as the government did not even take a single step in that direction.

Chohan, rather than responding to the question, lambasted the journalist, saying he should feel ashamed for having asked such a question.

“Media should not be an unguided missile. They should know what to ask and where to ask,” said the minister. “It should not ask questions which can raise conflict.”

Photo courtesy: Daily Times

Don't Miss These

Newsroom
CPJ urges probe after journalist Rana Ayyub receives death threats in India

CPJ urges probe after journalist Rana Ayyub receives death threats in India

 November 04, 2025 Journalist Rana Ayyub receives death threats over calls demanding a column on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots as CPJ urges swift action to protect journalists in India.


Moldovan journalist Mariana Rață receives death threat after interview

Moldovan journalist Mariana Rață receives death threat after interview

 November 04, 2025 TV8 journalist Mariana Rata in Moldova receives a death threat after interviewing politician Renato Usatii on-air, raising concerns about journalist safety.


Indonesia’s agriculture minister faces backlash over lawsuit against Tempo

Indonesia’s agriculture minister faces backlash over lawsuit against Tempo

 November 03, 2025 Global journalist unions condemn the Indonesian agriculture minister’s lawsuit against Tempo, calling it a threat to press freedom and demanding that the case be withdrawn.


All About Macau to cease print and online operations amid mounting pressure

All About Macau to cease print and online operations amid mounting pressure

 November 02, 2025 Independent outlet All About Macau to halt print and online operations amid rising pressure, financial strain, and legal threats, sparking press freedom concerns in the city.


Belarus court jails journalist Siarhei Chabotska for three-and-a-half years over 'extremism' charges

Belarus court jails journalist Siarhei Chabotska for three-and-a-half years over 'extremism' charges

 November 01, 2025 Belarus court jails journalist Siarhei Chabotska for extremism and defaming the president, highlighting Minsk’s ongoing crackdown on press freedom.