PFUJ recalls November 3, 2007 emergency as Pakistan’s darkest day

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published last month |  JP Staff Report

PFUJ marks November 3, 2007, as Pakistan’s darkest day, recalling Musharraf’s media crackdown, Supreme Court arrests, and ongoing threats to journalists’ rights and press freedoms.

Summary

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has declared November 3, 2007, the blackest day in Pakistan’s history, when General Pervez Musharraf imposed emergency, banned media, and suspended television transmissions.

In a joint statement, PFUJ President Afzal Butt and Secretary General Arshad Ansari said the day would always be remembered as a dark chapter when the media faced ruthless suppression, Supreme Court judges were placed under house arrest, and many were coerced into taking an oath under the Provisional Constitution Order. "The constitution was abrogated for the second time by the dictatorial regime of General Musharraf, which had seized power through a military coup in 1999, trampling the sanctity of parliament and the constitution," they said.

They added that journalists were among the first to challenge this blatant violation. "Members of our fraternity arranged talk shows on the streets to defy the dictator, making it clear that no coercion could deter media persons from performing their duty and protecting press freedoms."

PFUJ leadership said journalists across Pakistan protested that day, demanding the withdrawal of the emergency, the provisional constitutional order, and the restoration of the 1973 constitution.

Expressing concern, they noted that despite the restoration of democracy, oppressive laws remain in the system, and journalists’ rights continue to be violated. "Media persons face retrenchments, intimidation, and registration of fake and fabricated cases, which is highly condemnable," they said.

PFUJ demanded the withdrawal of concocted cases against journalists, including senior journalist Matiullah Jan, and called for enhanced safety and security for media personnel.

The union also urged parliament to abolish the PECA Amendment 2025, which threatens press freedom and undermines freedom of expression. They further asked the government to link advertisement payments to media houses with timely payment of journalists’ salaries and to investigate media retrenchments that leave families in financial distress.