Engineer Rohan Chaudhary
Mirpur: Journalists from Kashmir Press Club Mirpur staged a protest against the enforcement of the PECA law, which restricts freedom of expression. The demonstration, organized in response to a call by PFUJ, was led by Vice President of Kashmir Press Club Mirpur, Rana Muhammad Shabbir Rajouri.
Prominent journalists participating in the protest included Central President of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Union of Journalists (AJKUJ) Hafiz Muhammad Maqsood, Chairman of Kashmir Committee Zafar Mughal, former President Arshad Mehmood Butt, former General Secretary Syed Sajjad Bukhari, Sajjad Qayyum Khanpuri, Rashid Bashir Chaudhry, Shiraz Bukhari, Shakeel Mughal, Chaudhry Ghazanfar Hussain, Arshad Gilani, and Zulfiqar Butt, among others.
Addressing the protest, the speakers strongly condemned the implementation of the PECA law, calling it a violation of fundamental human rights and freedom of expression. They demanded its immediate withdrawal, stating that journalists cannot be stopped from raising their voices for truth and justice.
The speakers expressed their disappointment, highlighting that even during martial law regimes, such draconian legislation was not introduced. However, under the rule of political parties that claim to champion democracy, this law was bulldozed through Parliament and enforced overnight.
The journalists vowed to continue their struggle until the law is repealed, emphasizing that they will not compromise on the sanctity of their profession and the freedom of the press.
