Islamabad:
The fraternity of the journalists observed a black day throughout the country on Friday against the amendments to the Law on the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (PEC), since the media workers had protests outside the press clubs, they raised Black flags and brought black bracelets.
All media agencies, including the Federal Union of Journalists of Pakistan (PFUJ), the Broadcast Association of Pakistan (PBA), the newspaper editors of the Council of Pakistan (CPNE), the Association of Editors of Electronic Media and Directors of news (Aemend) and all joined the protests under the umbrella of the Jac Action Committee (JAC) against the recently promulgated sin amendment law, which they described as a draconian law aimed at vomiting dissent.
The burst of protest activities took place throughout the country with the largest demonstration held outside the Islamabad national press club, where journalists raised the black flag on the club’s ceiling, raised slogans against the PCA law and made ardent speeches criticizing the Government for using a law to quell freedom of expression.
When addressing the manifestation of protest, the president of PFUJ, Afzal Butt, described the law of the PCA law, a black law, and added that Pfuj will celebrate manifestations of protest daily and disseminate the protest movement to each corner and corner of the country. He highlighted the government for amendments in the PCA law without consulting the bodies of the journalists.
In addition to the Federal Capital, the protest demonstrations were also carried out in provincial capitals and large cities against legislation. The journalists also gathered outside Karachi Press Club, Lahore Press Club, Quetta Press Club, Peshawar Press Club, Rawalpindi Press Club, Hyderabad Press Club and press clubs in other cities. They made black flags to mark the day. They also raised slogans and spoke against the government and law. The journalists’ leaders affirmed that the Government tried to tame journalists on the pretext of stopping the false news.
In addition, television reporters, presenters and hosts also performed their duties when using black bracelets to express opposition to the PCA law. In addition, journalists also covered public and private events by using black bracelets.
In spite of the guarantees of consultations with the interested parties, the federal government devastated the controversial bill in the National Assembly and then approved it of the Senate in Puris, which speaks volume about the hidden reasons of the Government and the bad intention, said the Jac.
