KARACHI: The All Pakistan Newspapers Society has severely criticised “attempts to browbeat media with acts of vandalism and looting and burning of copies of newspapers”.
In a press release issued on Thursday, the APNS said it had been informed “that some miscreants attacked the offices of Daily Jang and The News and Geo TV in Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Khairpur, Daharki, Thatta, Jacobabad, Tando Mohammad Khan and Nawabshah”. They forcibly entered the offices and damaged equipment, manhandled staff and snatched and torched bundles of Jang and other newspapers.
Activists of some political parties, it said, assaulted hawkers and distribution agents and threatened them with dire consequences if the newspapers were distributed. The Akhbar Farosh Federation has informed the APNS that hawkers would not be able to distribute newspapers unless they were provided security.
“The APNS reiterates that its member publications provide a platform for dialogue in the society and thus facilitate different sections to voice their views in the columns of newspapers, which is a prerequisite to inculcate pluralism and tolerance. However, if there is any difference of opinion, it may be expressed through argument and not by resorting to violence.”
The APNS, therefore, strongly condemns the acts of violence as an attempt to suppress the media by force and terms the incident a brutal attack on freedom of expression and reiterates its resolve that the media will continue to perform its professional duty to serve the people`s `right to know`. The task of media is to disseminate news and report events without fear of repression and reaction.
The APNS called upon the civil society, human rights organisations and democratic forces across the country to strongly condemn the acts of violence against the media. It also appealed to the chief minister and home minister of Sindh to provide adequate security and protection to media personnel and hawkers and take action against the culprits. The Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors and Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists have also condemned the attacks and called for immediate action against elements behind them.
Source: Dawn
Date:7/29/2011
