KARACHI, June 21 2006: Journalists continued their boycott of the Sindh Assembly proceedings on June 20 as they pressed for high-level probes into the circumstances leading to the kidnapping and murder of newsman Hayatullah Khan in Mirali, killing of TV cameraman Munir Sangi in Larkana, kidnapping of reporter Mukesh Ropeta in Jacobabad and threats to another reporter, Sarmad Kernani. Home Minister Rauf Siddiqui and Inter-Provincial Coordination Minister Sohrab Sarki met the protesting journalists in the press room and told them that the provincial government had requested the chief justice of the Sindh High Court to investigate the killing of Munir Sangi.

They assured that the government would seek details of the case relating to kidnapping of Mukesh Ropeta. The journalists also called on Sindh Assembly Speaker Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah, senior member from the treasury benches Mohammad Hussain and leader of the opposition Nisar Ahmad Khuhro. Our Quetta staff correspondent adds: Journalists on June 20 staged a protest demonstration in front of the Provincial Assembly building against the killing of their colleagues, Hayatullah Khan and cameraman Munir Sangi in Larkana and injuring of two other newsmen in Thul and Dera Allahyar.

Members of the Balochistan Union of Journalist, led by the union’s president Shahzada Zulfiqar, gathered in front of the assembly building during the budget session. They shouted slogans against the government and called for protection by the government. Half an hour later, Speaker of the Balochistan Assembly Jamal Shah Kakar and Deputy Speaker Aslam Bhootani came out and requested the journalists to end their protest and attend the budget session.

The journalists called off their protest after the speaker assured them that issue would be discussed in the assembly. Deputy Speaker Aslam Bhootani read out the memorandum in the house that was handed over to the speaker by journalists.
Source: Dawn
Date:6/21/2006