Assault on journalists in Pakistan deplored

Last Saturday, police in Pakistan had fired tear gas and physically assaulted lawyers, human rights activists and journalists during a protest against the acceptance of Musharraf’s papers for re-election by the Election Commission of Pakistan.

Several UAE-based Pakistani journalists will shortly be handing a signed petition to the Pakistani Consul-General in the UAE, Chaudhary Abdul Hameed, to protest the manhandling of journalists in Pakistan.

Said Javed Malik, executive director of The World Forum and a television journalist: “Being associated with the television media, I strongly condemn the way journalists were beaten up. We are shocked and dismayed at the intimidating tactics used by the government to prevent journalists from carrying out their duties. How does a government that claims to have given freedom to the media explain that? Scores of journalists, cameramen and scribes were beaten up in broad daylight just for carrying out their duty. “This was nothing by a desperate act to curb the media. This was not all. The three main news channels, ARY, GEO, and AAJ were taken off air. How can the government claim Press freedom when journalists are being beaten up, and news channels are being taken off-air?

“I hope that those in the government realise that such acts of intimidation will only prove counter-productive in the long run. Media is the fourth pillar of the state. I think the government needs to strengthen it, not weaken it. Journalists observed a “black day” in Pakistan as a mark of solidarity to their colleagues. I think this is a powerful statement - the fight for media freedom will continue regardless of such petty intimidating tactics,” he asserted.

Ch. Mohammed Nadeem, bureau chief of Urdu Post International and Voice of Lahore, said, “This incident has proved that there is no Press freedom as claimed by President Musharraf. If the Press favours the government, then they are allowed to perform their duties well, else they are subjected to physical assault. This is not a democratic attitude.” He added: “I suggest that an international campaign be launched against this attitude. The journalists were only performing their duties. Media is the voice of the people. It cannot be suppressed in this way.”

A Dubai-based journalist who did not wish to reveal her identity said: “It is a major dilemma in Pakistan that we have not learnt from history. Whosoever ruled Pakistan since its independence, has tried to control the situation and exploit it for personal benefits.”

Tahir Muneer, UAE bureau chief for Pakistan’s Urdu daily Naw-i-Waqt, said, “Pakistani journalists are lying in hospitals for protesting the rule of might, which I think is despicable and against Press freedom in the country.”

Arshad A, another Dubai-based journalist working for an Urdu weekly said, “These protests will awaken the masses. Once the common man comes out on the streets to protest the military rule, then only there can be change in the political scenario in the country.”

Aftab Ahmed Khan, news editor for ARY One TV channel, said, “Whatever happened in front of the Election Commission in Islamabad should be deplored. This proved that the government’s claim of allowing a free media was false. Whatever freedom the Press has, it has been snatched.” Khan added: “The government claims to have conquered the caves of Balochistan and the mountains of Waziristan, but such incidents prove that they have failed miserably in Karachi and Islamabad.”