ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has launched a “Press Freedom Movement from July 5 onwards against the alleged unannounced censorship being faced by Pakistani media and the curtailing of the distribution of the daily Dawn in several parts of the country,” the journalist body said in a statement.
“The PFUJ decided to launch the movement on July 5, as the black day, the day the 1977 martial law was declared, which was followed by the total ban on independent and free media in the country,” PFUJ President Afzal Butt and Secretary General Ayub Jan Sarhadi said in joint statement issued late on Tuesday evening.
“The decision to launch a movement was announced after consultation with units from all over Pakistan, Black flags will be raised on all press clubs on July 5 in Pakistan.”
On July 9, journalists will set up camps outside the Dawn offices, one of Pakistan’s prominent media groups, in solidarity with the media house, PFUJ said.
“The Dawn newspaper is now not available to the citizens in several parts of the country and Dawn television (transmissions) are also not available in several localities,” the PFUJ said in a statement. “This is not only an infringement on the right to freedom of expression, this is also an infringement of the rights of the citizen in making a free choice in the consumption of media.”
The PFUJ leadership in a statement said that the hardships faced by the media will have a negative impact on the credibility of the elections scheduled for July 25.
“Union leaders have advised the interim government and election commission to look into the matter and ensure the circulation of Dawn is not curtailed,” the PFUJ said.
Pakistani journalist body announces press freedom drive
Pakistani journalist body announces press freedom drive
- The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) said in a statement that the hardships faced by media will have a negative impact on the credibility of the elections set for July 25
- The Pakistani media is facing unannounced censorship claims the PFUJ — and demanding the interim government and election commission look into the matter
Protesters to rally in Milan denouncing impact of Winter Games
MILAN: Thousands of people were expected to march through Milan on Saturday in a protest over housing costs and urban affordability on the first full day of the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics
The march, organized by grassroots unions, housing-rights groups and social center community activists, is set to highlight what activists call an increasingly unsustainable city model marked by soaring rents and deepening inequality.
The Olympics cap a decade in which Milan has seen a property boom following the 2015 World Expo, with locals squeezed by soaring living costs as Italy’s tax scheme for wealthy new residents, alongside Brexit, drew professionals to the financial capital.
According to police estimates, more than 3,000 people are expected to join the march.
It will set off at 3 p.m. (1400 GMT) from the Medaglie d’Oro central square and cover nearly four kilometers (2.5 miles) before ending in Milan’s south-eastern quadrant of Corvetto, a historically working-class district.
A rally last weekend by the hard-left in the city of Turin turned violent, with more than 100 police officers injured and nearly 30 protesters arrested, according to an interior ministry tally.
Saturday’s protest follows a series of actions in the run-up to the Games, including rallies on the eve of the opening ceremony that denounced the presence in Italy of US ICE agents and what activists describe as the social and economic burdens of the Olympic project.
Some groups argue that Olympics are a waste of money and resources while housing prices are unaffordable and public meeting places scarce.
The march is taking place under tight security as Milan hosts world leaders, athletes and thousands of visitors for the global sport event, including US Vice President JD Vance.
Political tensions surfaced at the opening ceremony on Friday night where Vance drew jeers in the packed San Siro stadium when an image of him waving the US flag appeared on a big screen.
