Media protest rocks Pakistani National Assembly

Islamabad, June 7: Pakistani journalists opened a new front against the government as they used press gallery of the National Assembly as a platform to register their protest against new curbs on electronic media.

The protest sprung surprise on both government and opposition members, who had assembled in the house on the first day of the budget session.

Journalists, who had initially staged a walkout from the house, got angry when information ministry officials allegedly sent a group of people to the press gallery to create an impression about division among reporters.

They stormed the press gallery and mercilessly beat what they called fake reporters. As the situation went out of control, journalists began chanting anti-government slogans for promulgating a decree that imposes new curbs on the electronic media.

Under the new ordinance, promulgated by military ruler Pervez Musharraf, the Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority can confiscate broadcast equipment and seal broadcaster's premises for breaking the law.

Critics believe that Musharraf issued the new decree to check increasing criticism against armed forces by opposition parties and lawyers in the wake of his own decision to sack chief justice Chaudhry, which triggered violent protests all over the country.

''We want freedom and reject the black law,'' journalists said while chanting slogans from the press gallery.

Speaker Chaudhry Ameer Hussain, who had to adjourn the house for fifteen minutes to regain control of the situation, said the incident, which was the first of its kind in Pakistan's parliamentary history ruined sanctity of the legislature.

He also castigated opposition legislators for supporting and encouraging the journalists.

''I was shocked to see them chanting slogans from the press gallery,'' Hussain said, adding that instead of condemning the incident, opposition members encouraged protesting journalists.

Ruling Pakistan Muslim League legislators demanded stern action against including registration of criminal cases against journalists. But opposition members including senior Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Aitzaz Ahsan and senior Islamic alliance, Mutahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) legislator Liaqat Baloch asked the speaker to form a joint committee of the house to look into the matter.

Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has already announced to observe black day on June 7 to protest against the new presidential decree and threats being hurled out to journalists all over the country.

UNI

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