Journalists observe countrywide blackday

Lahore: Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists observed Country Wide protest and black day on Friday against the Brutal twin bomb blasts in Quetta on Thursday killing 3 Journalists and injuring 3 Media Person. On the Call of PFUJ affiliated union stage Protest and spend the day in mourning on Friday January 11, 2013
Protest Rallies lead by PFUJ President Pervaiz Shaukat and Secretary General Amin Yousuf strongly condemns and shown serious concern over the ongoing violence across the country. During his speech in Islamabad President PFUJ said “We have particularly been focusing on training of journalists in performing their duties during blasts. The aim of our trainings has always been how to report and cover disasters, blasts and conflicts”.

Secretary General Amin Yousuf in Karachi addressing the rally said “We will not tolerate government’s continued apathy to the loss of precious lives. We have already given a dead line of 20th January to the Government regarding the Protection of Journalists, constitution of 8th Wage Board, Non Payment of Salaries and retrenchment of Journalists in Media Houses otherwise Sit-in (Dharna) is inevitable on 28th January at Parliament House Islamabad, “.

Furthermore Karachi Union of Journalists also held Protest rally holding placards and wears black bands in large numbers showing their Unity and was present to demand immediate actions against the culprits and assurance by the government for safety of Journalists across the country.

President Karachi Union of Journalists G. M. Jamali condemns the loss of valuable life. The Participants demand government to provide protection of Journalists working in the line of duty and said that now Journalists are becoming easy victims and targets.

Khyber Union of Journalists on Friday held a rally and demanded of the government to announce a handsome package for their families.

Those spoke on the occasion include KhUJ President Arshad Aziz Malik, General Secretary Ali Hazrat Bacha, Peshawar Press Club President Nasir Hussain, Sama TV Bureau Chief Shaukat Khattak.

Speakers expressed grave concern over the increasing ratio of journalists’ killing in parts of the country and described it very unfortunate, saying that journalists were being faced with alarming situation but the government had totally failed to arrest any of the accused or making the investigation reports public.

Faisalabad Union of Journalists staged a demonstration and rally against the killing of the journalists in Quetta. The SVP of FUJ Madeem Javed and general secretary Hamid Yaseen preside the rally, a large no of people from all the aspects of life participate in the rally including the members of FUJ.

Hyderabad staged a protest demonstration under the leadership of the President Hyderabad Union of Journalists Junaid Khanzada in front of Hyderabad Press Club against the assassination of Reporter and Cameraman of Sama Television and Press Photographer of a regional newspaper in Quetta blast.

Large numbers of working journalists, photographers and cameramen including Abbottabad Union, Bahawalpur Union, Sukkur Union, Punjab Union, Chaman Union, Baluchistan Union, Gujranwala Union, Sargodha Union, Hub Union and Unions of various cities hold protest demonstration and condemned the assassination of Saif-ur-Rehman, Imran Shaikh and Muhammad Iqbal in Quetta Blasts.