Journalists across Pakistan observed a Black Day on November 3, following a call by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), to mark the imposition of emergency rule in 2007 and protest restrictions on press freedom, the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025, and challenges facing media workers, including forced dismissals, bureau closures and delayed salary payments.
Protests were held outside press clubs in Quetta, Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and other cities, with journalists wearing black armbands and raising black flags. In Quetta, the Balochistan Union of Journalists (BUJ) organised a sit-in outside the Quetta Press Club, attended by journalists, lawyers and civil society representatives, to highlight concerns over press freedom, professional rights and job security.
At the Karachi Press Club, journalists, lawyers, trade union representatives and human rights activists gathered to condemn the November 3, 2007 emergency imposed by then President General Pervez Musharraf, which resulted in the suspension of the Constitution, media restrictions and the house arrest of Supreme Court judges. Speakers recalled journalists’ resistance to censorship and pledged to continue defending press freedom and constitutional rights.
The demonstration was attended by representatives of the Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ), All Pakistan Newspaper Employees Confederation, National Trade Union Federation, Trade Unions Confederation, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research, Sindh High Court Bar Association, AMEND and the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors.
KUJ President Tahir A. Khan told Voicepk that journalists had resisted Musharraf-era media restrictions, when several television channels were shut down and hundreds of journalists were arrested in Karachi. He said their struggle led to the withdrawal of emergency rule and restoration of television channels. KUJ General Secretary Liaquat Kashmiri said similar restrictions persisted, highlighting restrictions on media, internet and social media access in Azad Kashmir for five months. He reaffirmed the PFUJ’s commitment to press freedom, constitutional supremacy and fundamental rights.
PFUJ leaders and other speakers expressed concern over media restrictions, retrenchments, intimidation and what they described as fabricated cases against journalists. They demanded the withdrawal of such cases, protection for media workers and repeal of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025, which they said threatens press freedom and freedom of expression.
At the National Press Club in Islamabad, PFUJ President Afzal Butt, senior journalists Mazhar Abbas and Nasir Zaidi, among others, condemned the restrictions imposed on the judiciary and media. At the Lahore Press Club, PFUJ Secretary General Arshad Ansari, Punjab Union of Journalists President Naeem Hanif and General Secretary Qamar Zaman Butt criticised actions against journalists under PECA and raised concerns over salary cuts and forced dismissals. Qamar Bhatti, General Secretary of the Punjab Union of Journalists, said journalists faced restrictions similar to those during Musharraf’s rule.
