GILGIT, February 20,2005:Four weeklies in the Northern Areas have suspended their publications to protest against alleged intimidation by radical militants. In another development, the region’s journalists’ bodies have decided not to print controversial statements by religious and sectarian groups.

A meeting by the Gilgit Press Club and the Gilgit Union Journalists have decided that all the local weekly newspapers would suspend their two editions to record their protest against militant groups who had allegedly hurled threats to journalists during the tense situation in Gilgit. Following the decision, the popular weeklies of the region – Bade-e-Shimal, K-2, Naqara and Waadi – have not been printed. But two other local weeklies announced that they would not join the protest.

The meeting said various pressure groups had intimidated journalists and paper owners merely to create space for their “fake and controversial” press releases in the papers.
Source: Daily Times
Date:2/20/2005