LAHORE- Punjab Union of Journalists (PUJ) and Lahore Press Club (LPC) condemning killing of journalists in Iraq-coalition force conflict took out a protest march from Lahore Press Club to Assembly Hall here on April 10, 2003.

Besides, I. H. Rashid President Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), Bakhtgir Chaudhry President PUJ, Jalil Hasan Akhtar Raja General Secretary PUJ, Arshad Ansari President Lahore Press Club and a large number of journalists participated in the protest.

I. H. Rashid President PFUJ addressing on the occasion asked United Nations to play its part in stopping atrocities in war torn Iraq.

He asked the parties to the conflict to provide financial assistance to families of journalists, who lost their lives in the conflict.

Bakhtgir Chaudhry President PUJ speaking on the occasion condemned target killing of journalists. He appreciated Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Ellahi for creating Welfare Fund for journalists on the occasion.

Jalil Hasan Akhtar Raja, General Secretary PUJ in his address on the occasion said that journalists who lost their lives in conflict were role model for journalists around the world. ‘Journalists should take inspiration from them and strive for upholding of truth and in the world’, he added.

He stated that besides killings of 15 journalists in recent war, 22 other journalists died in line of duty during 2002.

He asked world fraternity of journalists to strive for completion of mission of killed journalists by making sure that rule of democracy and people was established in Iraq.

Arshad Ansari President Lahore Press Club speaking on the occasion condemned killing of journalists in Iraq and said that their hearts were with families of martyred journalists.
Source: Business Recorder
Date:4/11/2003