PUJ's five-day protest against PECA ends

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 18 March 2022

The PUJ concluded its protest against the PECA Amendment Ordinance in Lahore. Many prominent figures joined to support the cause and emphasize the need for freedom of expression.

Summary

LAHORE—The Punjab Union of Journalists (PUJ) has concluded its five-day camp to protest against the controversial Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) Amendment Ordinance.

In front of the Lahore Press Club, many journalists, political and labor leaders, human rights and civil society activists, and representatives of the legal fraternity expressed solidarity with the journalists' community.

Senior journalist Raees Ansari, former LPC President Arshad Ansari, PUJ President Ibrahim Lucky, former PUJ presidents Qamar Zaman Bhatti and Ahsan Zia, among others, addressed the protest camp.

Senior journalist Raees Ansari said the days of the government were numbered. "The rulers want to restrict freedom of expression by enacting laws like PECA Ordinance. We will not allow this to happen," he asserted.

Arshad Ansari said that if the government does not withdraw the PECA Ordinance, journalists from all over Pakistan will be on the streets. "If we are forced to protest, journalists from every small and big city across the country would reach Islamabad and besiege the rulers," he announced.

PUJ President Ibrahim Lucky said that given the country's prevailing political situation, according to the executive council of the PUJ, the protest camp is being discontinued temporarily. "It can be resumed any time on the call of Arshad Ansari as the PUJ's core committee has delegated him this authority to issue a call for protest including a long march towards Islamabad." He thanked all the camp participants for expressing solidarity with the journalists.

All Pakistan Newspapers Employees Confederation (APNEC) General Secretary Mansoor Malik said the PECA Ordinance is a conspiracy to suppress the voice of the masses. He vowed to resist the controversial PECA Ordinance at all levels.