Journalist unions to PTI chairman: stop targeting media

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published April 27, 2022

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ISLAMABAD—Journalist unions have expressed solidarity with female journalists and urged the PTI chairman Imran Khan to share shreds of evidence of allegations he leveled against them.

Leaders belonging to the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ), and the National Press Club held a protest on Tuesday.

The protestors announced calling a nationwide protest if the PTI chairman failed to apologize to the journalist community. The PFUJ, in this regard, also decided to form a committee comprising senior journalists to probe allegations leveled by the PTI against journalists and harassment on social media.

Shahzada Zulfiqar, President of PFUJ, said that politics is based on morality. "Unfortunately, our political parties, especially PTI, fall from morality," he regretted. He urged the PTI leadership to bring all the evidence and share it with the journalist community. "If we [PFUJ] do not take action against these journalists, we will be equally complicit in their crime. However, if you [Imran Khan] cannot provide evidence, then apologize to the journalists in front of the nation," he stated.

Nasir Zaidi, Secretary-General PFUJ, warned the PTI to stop harassing and trolling journalists on social media. 'I warn PTI to stop trolling journalists on social media, follow the country's constitution, and respect journalists.

Afzal Butt, a former President of PFUJ, criticized the PTI chairman. He emphasized that the former PM was making allegations of foreign funding and was running a propaganda campaign against women journalists on social media. "If you have evidence against any individual journalist, then share details with the PFUJ, but you must apologize if you are running a campaign to malign the entire media community."

Abid Abbasi, President RIUJ, said that the PTI top leadership is accusing the journalist community without any evidence. "The attitude of PTI towards journalists is deplorable." He condemned the propaganda campaign against the media, especially women journalists.

Anwar Raza, President of the National Press Club, emphasized taking appropriate action against PTI's baseless allegations. Appreciating the government's decision to disband the digital media wing, he demanded that Information Minister Marriyam Aurangzeb initiate an inquiry against the wing, established by the former government, to harass the journalist community.

Tariq Ali Virk, General Secretary RIUJ, while showing solidarity with journalists Myra Imran, Nayyar Ali, and Aun Shirazi, announced that the RIUJ would never leave its members alone. According to him, PTI chairman was making baseless allegations against the journalists, and there was a need to launch protests across the country.

Khalil Ahmad Raja, secretary of the National Press Club, regretted that false and baseless allegations were leveled against journalists Myra Imran and Nayyar Ali in a TV show. He warned the TV anchor not to become a propaganda tool in supporting a political party.

Tariq Chaudhry, a former president of the National Press Club, said Imran Khan should control his social media team; otherwise, he will be responsible for dire consequences.

Aamir Sajjad Syed, former president of RIUJ, said that Imran Khan's government was in power for three-and-a-half years. Ten to 12 thousand journalists lost their jobs, and many media outlets were forced to close down.

Nayyer Ali, Finance Secretary of the National Press Club, said that PTI had launched an organized campaign against journalists on social media. "If you do not have answers to our questions, you should apologize, but please don't target us," she said.

Myra Imran, Vice President of the press club, pointed out that it was normal for journalists to visit embassies and interact with envoys. However, how PTI hurls baseless allegations against us is very problematic."

Aun Shirazi, a former vice-president of RIUJ, shared the details of recent harassment during the PTI chairman's press conference. " I found that certain journalists are allowed to ask questions. I raised the voice against this discrimination, but Shahbaz Gill, in Imran Khan's presence, attacked me physically. If you launch a propaganda campaign against us on social media, we will continue to answer you with our pen."

Many other journalists, including Izhar Niazi, Shahid Ajmal, Nasir Khattak, Alimdar, Sobia Musharraf, Arif Janjua, Muhammad Hasnain, and Waseem Satti, also attended the demonstration.