Syed Munawar Naqvi
Gujar Khan (Black Day of the Journalist Community Against the PECA Act) – On the call of the central leadership, a massive protest demonstration was held on GT Road under the leadership of Gujar Khan Union of Journalists President Ahmed Nawaz Khokhar, with huge slogans raised against the PECA Act. Journalists held placards on which were written “We do not accept the rules of oppression, down with PECA Act, we are with the central leadership and restrictions on journalism are unacceptable” and other slogans. Addressing the protesters, Ahmed Nawaz Khokhar said that journalism is being strangled under the guise of the PECA Act. Laws were made at different times to lock the tongues of journalists, but the voice of truth cannot be suppressed. It is our primary responsibility to inform the public about the facts and it is our first duty to propagate the truth. The government should immediately withdraw this law and the restrictions on freedom of expression should be lifted immediately. If any legislation is to be made, it should be done after consulting the stakeholders. We do not accept any law that violates basic human rights. In protest against the PECA Act, GUJ General Secretary Syed Munawar Naqvi, Aamir Wazir Malik, Talat Sial, Chaudhry Akhlaq Hussain, Khalid Qureshi, Shahzada Arbab Ijaz, Malik Naveed Afsar, and other speakers also said in their speeches that the journalist fraternity across the country is protesting against the PECA Act and this protest will continue until the act is withdrawn.
