Daily Times

On the call of South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA), journalists and Lahore Press Club leaders staged a demonstration to condemn the brutal murder of Rising Kashmir Editor Shujat Bukhari in Srinagar and demanded formation of an independent commission of inquiry to bring the real culprits to justice.

Demonstrations were organised in different cities of South Asia on the killing of ‘voices of peace’ in the troubled region. Addressing the demonstrators, SAFMA Secretary General Imtiaz Alam called upon the concerned authorities to stop such acts of terrorism. He paid rich tributes to Shaheed Shujaat Bukhari for his bravery, professionalism and commitment to peace.

“Mr Bukhari,” he said, “wanted a peaceful solution to the ongoing atrocities and militancy.”

Former information minister Parvez Rasheed expressed solidarity with the struggle of journalists for press freedom and their security. He lamented the murder of Shujaat Bukhari and called for independent inquiry into the killing of a sane voice. He emphasised that without respecting freedom of expression and civil rights of the people, there cannot be any democracy. He cautioned against the efforts to muzzle media freedom, which would cast doubts about the fairness of elections.

LPC president called upon the journalists and their bodies to unite and protect journalists and media freedom.

Published in Daily Times, June 20^th 2018.