Journalists condemn government's anti-media policy

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 11 January 2019

Journalists in Lahore protested against ongoing job and pay cuts linked to the government's policies. Key figures condemned the government's impact on the media industry.

Summary

LAHORE – Journalists angry over continuing job and pay cuts, and the recent outburst of Punjab Information Minister Fayyaz ul Hassan Chohan against a reporter, staged a protest outside the Punjab Assembly on Friday.

Arshad Ansari (center), the convener of a joint action committee of journalists and president Lahore Press Club, condemned the anti-media policies of the government, and the minister’s arrogant attitude.

He said the PTI government had achieved nothing in its first 100 days in power and had now begun another 100-day count.

He also took a swipe at the Federal Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry for his negative approach towards the industry.

Shahzad Butt, President Punjab Union of Journalists, said it was a pity that the government which promised to provide jobs to people was instead rendering them jobless. He said those in power were out to destroy the media industry.

Rana Azeem, President of his faction of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), criticized the opposition for not standing by the media workers. He said none of them bothered to call for banning government advertisements to the media houses which were cruelly kicking out employees and not paying them their dues.

He urged the opposition members to extend whole-hearted support to the media workers.