ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Journalist Community across the Country observed ‘Black Day’ on Thursday under the banner of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) to mark martial law imposed by the former military dictator Ziaul Haq on July 5, 1977, resulting in media censorship and crackdown against journalists.
‘Black Day’ – which was observed under the Press Freedom Movement launched by PFUJ – was also meant to register a protest against ongoing unannounced censorship being faced by Pakistani media and non-availability of daily Dawn in several parts of the Country.
In a bid to mark ‘Black Day’, black flags were hoisted in all Press Clubs of Pakistan and special events were held to highlight brutalities inflicted by Ziaul Haq to media and media persons under the martial law regime 41 years ago.
The presidents of Unions of Journalists hoisted black flags in their respective Press Clubs in Islamabad, Peshawar, Abbottabad, Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Multan, Bahawalpur, Rahimyar Khan, Sukkur, Hyderabad, Karachi and Quetta.
The main ceremony was held at National Press Club (NCP) in Islamabad, wherein the PFUJ President Afzal Butt, the NPC President Tariq Mehmood Chaudhry, the NPC Secretary Shakeel Anjum, other NPC Officer Bearers and senior journalists participated.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) senior leader Farhatullah Babar and other politicians also attend the event and spoke on the occasion.
The PFUJ president was of the view that they launched the Press Freedom Movement because Pakistani media had been facing unannounced censorship and certain media houses were being marginalized through clamping their reach to people.
Afzal Butt said that current circumstances being faced by media would indicate a negative perception outside Pakistan about the credibility of forthcoming elections in Country.
The PFUJ president advised the interim government and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to look into the affairs and ensure reach of dawn newspaper and Dawn television to masses.
