PFUJ calls demonstration outside Parliament Building against JINNAH chief

Karachi; April 30,:- The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has condemned the incident of keening in illegal confinement of 35 journalists' staff members of the Daily Jinnah, maltreatment, threatening for dire consequences, abusing, disgracing, by Chief Editor Khushnood Ali Khan and his accomplices without any justification and lawful authority.

The PFUJ also decided to stage demonstration on May 2, 2011 (Monday) at 5 p.m. before the parliament building on Monday in which the media persons and representatives of the civil society would also take part to express their resentment and dismay over this ugly incident and immediate arrest of Khushnood Ali Khan and his conies involved in such heinous crime.

In a statement issued by the Secretary General PFUJ here on Saturday said it is universally recognized law as well as dictum laid down by the Supreme Court of Pakistan and even as per 1973 Constitution of the Pakistan "keeping in confinement without process of law, and maltreatment is a serious crime and can not be condone by any authority or court.

It is fit case to be be taken up by the Supreme Court of Pakistan as being custodians of the basic and fundamental rights of the citizens which has been violated with prefect impunity, the PFUJ asserted. According to Rawalpindi Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) on receipt of this reports of this incident the members of the RIUJ staged a sit-in outside Daily Jinnah to condemn against illegal, immoral, unlawful, and barbaric acts of Khushnood Ali Khan and his accomplices in the building Jinnah in Sitara Market, Islamabad Friday night.

The journalists led by RIUJ and National Press Club leadership assembled outside the building of Daily Jinnah when the "confined" staff members sought help for their release from the clutches of Mr. Khan and his associates.
The sad aspects of this episode is that the Mr. Khan and his handpicked persons punished the staff as they demeaned for their legitimate wages and other fringe benefits as per law.

The staff was forcibly locked in the News Room for hours together, besides abusing, maltreating, threatening for dire-consequences.etc. Not only this, Khushnood Ali Khan etc has also tortured and victimized female journalists and staff in his newspapers. Likewise, Senior Journalists Babra Rizvi was sacked along with her other female colleagues, besides, abusing, harassing them, it added. The PFUJ reiterated its demand for immediate registration of case against offenders including Khushnood Ali Khan, for committing serious offence on charge of maltreatment, threatening for dire consequences, abusing, disgracing, the staff members of Daily Jinnah", and arrest of all the accused if there is rule of law, equity, justice and fair play exist in Pakistan.

The PFUJ also urge upon Chief Justice of Pakistan and human right organisations to take notice of this serious and blunt cause of highhandness and violations of human rights.

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MAY (Muhammed Amin Yousuf)
Secretary General,
Pakistan federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ)
+923333005393

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