Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Rawalpindi Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) and National Press Club (NPC) observed a ‘black day’ on Tuesday to condemn the targeting of journalists in the terrorist attacks.

RIUJ and NPC held a protest rally in the premises of NPC and demanded of the government to take measures including establishment of a tribunal to investigate all incidents, insurance of journalists, security of media organisations and announcement of appropriate compensations for the victims’ families. The rally was attended by lawmakers including Nehal Hashmi, Shahi Syed, Mian Attique, Barrister Ali Muhammad Khan, Saeed Khan Mandokhail besides office bearers of RIUJ, NPC and dozens of journalists, cameramen and other media workers.

The protesters condemned the killing of Taimur Abbas, an assistant cameraman of a local TV channel in Karachi and demanded the early arrest of the culprits. Addressing the participants, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), Senator Nehal Hashmi, said a legislation should be introduced for the protection of journalists and their families.

Provision of bullet proof DSNG van, jackets, helmets and other necessary equipments should be ensured for media men to observe their professional responsibilities, he said. He said the recent terrorism incidents in Quetta and Lahore were an international conspiracy to close the doors of support and tourism in Pakistan. The Prime Minister, he said, was committed to root out terrorism in the country, saying restoration of peace would lead to investment, increased trade and business activities.

ANP Senator Shahi Syed said: “We need 100 per cent success for the complete elimination of terrorism. The facilitator, financiers and supporters of terrorist organisations should be brought to book.” Senator Saeed Khan Mandokhail said the media had the power to unite the whole nation against any evil thinking. The journalists’ community should be given protection to freely observe their duties, he added.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf lawmaker Barrister Ali Muhammad expressed solidarity with the journalists’ community and said the owners of TV channels should provide bullet proof DSNGs to their employees for the protection of their lives.

He said employees of various media organisations were working in miserable conditions where they had to face non payment of salaries for several months. MQM Senator Mian Attique said the National Action Plan (NAP) should be implemented in letter and spirit to curb the menace of terrorism.

PPP Leader Muhammad Shakeel Advocate also condemned the attack on media men and demanded compensation for the victims’ family.

President RIUJ Afzal Butt said 120 journalists had been martyred in Pakistan while performing their professional duties. He demanded of the PM to establish a tribunal in accordance with his promise to investigate the killings of journalists.

He also demanded of the government to make sure to all TV channels to get insurance of their all employees. A certificate in this regard should be sought from media organisations at a time of their licence renewal.

Afzal Butt demanded of the government to ensure the registration of FIRs of attacks on media men under the Anti Terrorism Act and the cases should be trialed in special courts. He said SOPs should be introduced for compensations to the victims’ families.

President NPC Shakeel Anjum, General Secretary RIUJ Ali Raza Alvi, Chaudhry Tariq Mehmood and others also condemned the attacks on media men in Karachi and Lahore and expressed solidarity with the victims. They demanded to bring to book the accused involved in the killing of a media worker Taimur in Karachi as soon as possible.

It may be mentioned here that a 22-year-old assistant cameraman, Taimur Abbas, who had been associated with Samaa TV for the past 18 months, was killed in the gun attack on the digital satellite news gathering van (DSNG) of the private channel in North Nazimabad Karachi on Sunday evening.

Journalists, photographers, camerapersons and other media workers had staged protest demonstrations in different parts of the country against the latest killing and frequent attacks on media workers.