On the call of PFUJ, political and social leaders including PTI leader Alia Hamza Malik, senior lawyer Azhar Siddique, Sanam Javed also participated in the protest demonstration, expressing solidarity with journalists.
On the call of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, a full-scale protest and demonstration was organized by Punjab Union of Journalists at Lahore Press Club against the cruel and usurping PECA Act, in which senior journalist leadership, members of Punjabi Union, Electronic Media Reporters Association (EMRA), National Media Association of Pakistan, Court Journalists Association, Education Reporters Association, Health Reporters Association, leaders of lawyers’ organizations and important figures from different walks of life also participated.
Chief Organizer Punjab PTI Alia Hamza Malik, PTI leader and lawyer leader Azhar Siddique, PTI leader Sanam Javed and Punjabi Union leader Mudassar Iqbal Butt also expressed solidarity with journalists in the form of a delegation. Speaking on the occasion, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists President Rana Muhammad Azeem said that the current government should not be in any pretense, it is their fantasy that they will restrict freedom of expression through cruel and usurping laws.
We reject the cruel and usurping PECA Act that distorts basic human rights. We will not accept any such step that would restrict the fundamental right to freedom of expression. He said that we journalists have made sacrifices before and will not avoid any sacrifice now. He said that the government should not be in any misunderstanding.
The PFUJ President further said that there is no compensation for the bloodshed that the current government has inflicted on every citizen who writes, speaks and says. If the government does not come to its senses and withdraw the PECA Amendment Act, we will give a call all over Pakistan and then there will be demonstrations on the streets.
Senior Supreme Court lawyer and Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Azhar Siddique said that the oppression and cruelty that the current government is doing through its cruel measures is not acceptable in any way.
We have also gone to court against this black law and he assures the journalist community that we stand shoulder to shoulder with the journalist community until this black law is withdrawn. The current government has come with a fake mandate and is implementing usurping laws with the help of this fake mandate that will not affect any society. Or unacceptable in society.
Tehreek-e-Insaf leader and social activist Sanam Javed said that the government is implementing cruel laws to cover up its fraud. This cruel move of the government is not acceptable in any way. Tehreek-e-Insaf is also protesting strongly against this black law in the assemblies and will join every protest along with the journalist community.
Senior journalist leader Babar Dogar said that the current government is strangling the media to end the concept of criticism of itself, but we want to make it clear that we will not allow the government to restrict people’s freedom of expression under the guise of fake news. If voices are suppressed, nothing will be left in society except suffocation.
We will not hesitate to make any sacrifice for human rights and freedom of expression. Senior journalist leader and President Punjabi Media Nadeem Raza said that the sign of a living society is that there is the right to ask questions and freedom of speech. When a government takes away the right to speak from society, is afraid of criticism and questions, its decline begins.
The government should know that our Society is also alive and writers are also awake. They will not accept such restrictions at any cost that take away their basic rights from society. Protests will be held against every law, including the PECA Act, that takes away freedom of speech and writing. This movement of PUJ is not only a movement for the rights of journalists but a movement for the freedom of the entire society.
President Punjab Union of Journalists Mian Shahid Nadeem said that we are the heirs of the thoughts of Minhaj Barna and Nisar Usmani and the Punjab Union of Journalists knows very well how to defend the intellectual legacy of its movement leaders.
We are against fake news but will not allow the government to commit fascism under its cover. We will die only after winning this war for freedom of expression under the leadership of our leader Rana Muhammad Azeem. General Secretary Punjab Union of Journalists Qazi Tariq Aziz said that we did not take freedom of expression from the father of any Maryam, any Bilawal or any Tarar.
Our elders and seniors have made great sacrifices for this. We want to make it clear to the government that if the PECA Act is not withdrawn, then the fight will be fought in every field. We will not hesitate to make any sacrifice for this movement for freedom of expression, which is being led by Rana Muhammad Azeem.
Assistant Secretary General PFUJ Muhammad Shahid Chaudhry said that the rulers have resorted to high tactics, the existing ones The fundamental human rights enshrined in the Constitution of Pakistan are being negated by making more cruel amendments to the infamous act.
The practice of suppressing voices is considered intolerable in civilized societies. We will not allow anyone to restrict our right to write, speak and express our views. National Media Association of Pakistan Chairman Chaudhry Shahbaz Arain said that the government cannot take away our right to speak, speak and write.
The PECA Act is not only against freedom of the press but it is also a clear violation of the fundamental right to freedom of expression. It is the basic responsibility of every patriot to raise his voice against it. The government must withdraw this cruel act. Vice President PUJ Amir Sohail said that the fictitious champion of democracy, the Nawaz League government, tried to restrict freedom of expression in every era but failed.
Journalist leader Gulzar Mustafai said that the government cannot take away our freedom through the PECA Act, PUJ and PFUJ will fight to the last extent against the restriction on freedom of expression. Former Senior Vice President Mujtaba Bajwa, Member Governing Body Lahore Press Club Shakir Awan, Joint Secretary PUJ, Hamid Khan, Chaudhry Qasim Jatt, Syed Imran Shah, President of Cultural Reporters Association Nadeem Sajid, Niaz Butt, Mushtaq Chaudhry, Syed Zaman Shah, Zubair Chaudhry, Muhammad Abid, Chaudhry Afzal, Muhammad Usman and others also addressed the protest. The speakers said that a society and community is destroyed where there is no freedom of expression.
The speakers said that under the leadership of PFUJ and PUJ, the case of freedom of the press will be fought on every platform including the court, voices cannot be suppressed, powerful circles should also know very well that we know how to defend the intellectual legacy of movement leaders like Minhaj Barna and Nisar Usmani, this cruel act should be withdrawn immediately.
