PFUJ set to start press freedom drive

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 5 July 2018

The PFUJ is initiating a press freedom movement on July 5 to highlight ongoing restrictions on the media. The event will include a ceremony at the National Press Club, Islamabad.

Summary

ISLAMABAD – The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) is set to start ist press freedom drive on July 5 to highlight its struggle against the restrictions on press imposed by the martial law regime 41 years ago on this day.

Unions of Journalists affiliated with the PFUJ will hoist black flags on press clubs buildings across the country to denounce the dictatorial measures of the then military dictatorship of Gen Zia-ul-Haq, which imposed censorship on newspapers and arrested journalists and newspaper workers, who fought for the freedom of the press. Pakistan is faced with the same atmosphere today.

Pre-censorship has become a routine practice in newspapers and private TV channels. Journalists, cameraman and columnists are being intimidated, kidnapped and tortured by the state and non-state actors. The distribution of Dawn has been hampered and restricted in different areas to gag the free press in the country.

To condemn this state of affairs, the PFJU has started a press freedom movement to ensure the free flow of information in the country. The presidents of respective unions of journalists will hoist black flags on their respective press clubs (buildings) in Abbottabad, Peshawar, Islamabad, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Lahore, Multan, Bahawalpur, Rahimyar Khan, Sukkur, Hyderabad, Karachi and Quetta.

The main ceremony in this connection will be held at 5:00 pm at the National Press Club, Islamabad. PFUJ President Afzal Butt, PPP senior leader Farhatullah Babar and other politicians will speak on the occasion.