JournalismPakistan.com
November 20, 2018

ISLAMABAD – The National Press Club on Tuesday hosted veteran journalist Hussain Naqi to show solidarity with him after his uncalled for treatment by the Supreme Court last week.

Naqi arrived especially from Lahore for the event that had the presence of senior journalists, union leaders, and others.

Among the speakers were M. Ziauddin (former resident editor of Dawn, The News, and The Express Tribune), Nasir Zaidi (press freedom activist), Afzal Butt (President Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists), Nasir Malik (unionist and veteran journalist), and Hamid Mir (presenter Geo News).

All the speakers pointed to the bad times the journalists were going through because of layoffs, pay cuts, and unseen censorship. They called for unity among their ranks.

Naqi narrated the conversation that took place in the court.

The PFUJ on Monday had regretted the treatment meted out to him and said the humiliation of a senior citizen by the court had seriously hurt the sentiments of journalist community across the country.

Speaking at Tuesday’s event, Naqi said the media owners terminating employees had the money to sustain the so-called financial crunch. “Together with journalists they should come up with a solution.”

He said the owners should realize what the employees being laid off would have to go through. “Owners who are earning in the millions daily are terminating staff. They should know that once sacked, a journalist would not have the money even to have two meals.”

He called for a collective struggle by APNS, CPNE, and PFUJ to end this crisis.