S.S.DOGRA
New Delhi November 15, 2007 : A large number of Indian journalists today held a silent demonstration before Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi condemning suppression of Press freedom and atrocities on media persons in Pakistan. Led by NUJ(I) President Dr N K Trikha, the demonstation was also joined in by Mr Santosh Kumar and Mr. M.L.Tawar, leaders of the All Indian Newspapers Employees Federation. A memorandum was presented to the Pakistan High Commissioner urging his government to immediately lift censorship and controls on print and broadcast media in Pakistan and protect journalists in their work It expressed complete solidarity with the journalists colleagues in Pakistan in their hour of trial and tribulation. The memorandum said the Indian journalists were disturebed to learn of poilice raids on several broadcasting stations in Islamabad and Krachi,closure of private TV channels as also ordering the FM Radio off the air. “The challenges facing Pakistan cannot be solved by actions that prevent journalists from doing their work and that put our colleagues at risk of their personal safety” the memorandum added. The demostrating journalists carried placards with slogans like ‘Stop gagging the press’,’Lift curbs on Pak press’ and announcing ‘Freedom of the press is indivisible’.
