PFUJ condemns GNN decision to ban Arif Hameed Bhatti

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 25 August 2022

The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists has condemned GNN's decision to take Arif Hameed Bhatti off the air. They view this move as an attack on press freedom and have called for an emergency meeting to discuss further actions.

Summary

ISLAMABAD—The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has condemned the decision of the GNN Television management to take prominent analyst Arif Hameed Bhatti off the air.

Bhatti, a former PFUJ president, was told he could not be allowed on air Wednesday.

PFUJ termed this an attack on press freedom and has convened an emergent meeting of its Federal Executive Council (FEC). The council will chalk out a future course of action.

In a statement, PFUJ President Afzal Butt and Secretary-General Arshad Ansari warned the government not to attempt to suppress the freedom of the press. The union said it would not take the decision lying down.

Bhatti joined GNN in June 2019 as the channel's Chief Operating Officer after a stint at ARY News where he appeared in the program The Reporters.

KEY POINTS:

• PFUJ opposes GNN's decision to ban Bhatti
• Arif Hameed Bhatti is a former PFUJ president
• Emergency meeting convened by PFUJ's Federal Executive Council
• Warning issued to the government against press suppression
• Bhatti was previously with ARY News before joining GNN