PFUJ to government: Unfreeze BOL bank accounts

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 1 June 2015

The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists demands the government unblock bank accounts of BOL News. Journalists plan to protest against actions impacting their freedom of expression.

Summary

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has demanded of the government to unblock bank accounts of upcoming BOL News Television channel so that salaries could be paid to the staff before the start of Ramadan. PFUJ President Afzal Butt said this Monday while addressing a protest rally against the government for blocking the channel's test transmission and freezing their bank accounts. “The government may proceed against Axact if it has committed any crime but unblock bank accounts of the company; so that salaries could be paid to around 2200 employees working with the group,” he said. He said the journalists would protest Tuesday in front of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) and ask the authority to withdraw its directive of blocking the channel’s transmission. “If our demands aren’t met, we will boycott the budget session,” he said, adding the government’s actions against BOL have hurt democrats and activists fighting for freedom of expression. Bilal Dar, General Secretary Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ), said investigations against Axact, parent company of BOL, are still underway and it’s unfair to block the channel’s bank accounts. “If the same principle is applied to some sitting parliamentarians who are accused of tax evasion and corruption, then they should quit their assembly seats,” he said.