QUETTA: Journalists are discharging their professional obligations in very difficult situation in Balochistan. On one side there are pressure groups of banned organisations, publication of news of choice by political parties while government also seems helpless to take measures for the journalists on the other hand.
These views were expressed by speakers while addressing a rally in front of Press Club here on Wednesday. Rally was organized by Balochistan Union of Journalists on eve of Press Freedom Day. Journalists carried placards and banners in support of Freedom of Press. They also shouted slogans for their rights on the occasion.
Speaker including President BUJ Khalil Ahmed, Senior Vice President PFUJ Saleem Shahid and Press Cub Razaur Rehman said that government to safe real culprits in Dawn Leaks was taking action against weak people to settle down the matter. Preparations are underway to register cases against editor and report of Dawn but journalists bodies would not allow this. Government itself is reluctant to transparency and therefore investigation into Dawn Leaks has been vested in All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) which is organisation of owners and they are only concerned with their business and advertisements. They cannot take action based on transparency and facts.
They said at the international level steps were being taken to ensure Freedom of Press while in Pakistan Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has cancelled license of Bol Channel on the very day of Press freedom which is ban on freedom of press. Journalistic bodies and journalists who have rendered sacrifices for Freedom of Journalism and waged long struggle would raise voice at every level for their rights and are ready to launch any movement and give sacrifices. They would never surrender their rights.
Speakers said that so far six journalists have been martyred in Balochistan in bomb explosions while several journalists have been made targets while discharging their responsibilities but government has left relatives of martyred journalists helpless. Journalists rally and large number of participation of journalists has proved that journalists in Pakistan are united for their rights.
