Journalists Need to Huddle Up Against Media Owners

The journalists and media workers protested outside the Islamabad Press Club (IPC) against the attack on Asad Toor on Friday but beyond demonstration, they are required to unite against media owners for the protection of the rights of the community.

Besides non-protection, the media workers have often suffered the wrath of their owners in the form of lay-off sprees.

A number of media organizations have not paid salaries to their workers. The senior and influential journalists are required to stand up for the rights of their low-paid counterparts who often go neglected.

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Hamid Mir

While talking to News360, senior journalist Hamid Mir said that they had taken the course of law and constitution by peacefully protesting against the assault on media workers.

“If we pick up guns, you will start calling us terrorists”, he added.

Hamid Mir said that some elements wanted them to opt for violence but the media workers would respond to it with struggle and peaceful endeavor.

When asked why voice is not raised against the forced sacking of journalists, he replied that the journalists’ organizations hold demonstrations whenever the media workers are arbitrarily sacked from their jobs.

Hamid Mir claimed that he forced his organization, Geo News, to pay pending salaries to the employees when he was heading a committee to look into the matter formed by Supreme Court (SC).

Social activist Tahira Abdullah

Speaking to News360, social activist Tahira Abdullah suggested that the court should be approached against the attack on journalists as it was their constitutional right.

She questioned when the acts against the law and constitution would last.

Tahira Abdullah opined that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) should not criticize ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for planning to bring demonic PEMRA law as it had also made such attempts when it was at the helm.

The demonstration

The protest was attended by journalists, political leaders, lawyers and members of civil society.

The demonstrators raised placards and banners in support of media freedom and against attacks on media men.

Addressing the participants, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) Secretary-General Nasir Zaidi said that the state had failed.

He added that the state destroyed all institutions including media and the industry was facing a severe crisis.

Nasir Zaidi asserted that the state had imposed a clandestine martial law on the media.

He added that attempts are being made to suppress the voice of media and freedom of expression in the name of the Pakistan Media Development Authority (PMD).

Political leaders and journos

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Parliamentarians Secretary General Farhatullah Babar said that the attack on Asad Toor was not only an attack on journalists but also political parties.

He urged unity or else warned that all would be targeted one after another.

Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) Spokesperson Maryam Aurangzeb claimed conspiracies are being hatched against media’s freedom in the face of PMD.

In his address, Hamid Mir said that the cases registered against attacks on journalists resulted in nothing.

He claimed that the assailants of Asad Toor were ‘maloom afrad’ (identifiable people) who were trying to give the attack another color.

Senior journalist and anchorperson Asma Shirazi said that journalists who refused to sell themselves got targeted.

She vowed that the caravan of the media workers would keep progressing irrespective of how many times they have to bear the brunt of speaking truth.

Meanwhile, for chastising state institutions in the protest, #ArrestHamidMir is trending in Pakistan on Twitter.