“We will not rest until the murderers are arrested,” said speakers including Tahir Hasan Khan, Lala Asad Pathan, Javed Chaudhry, Khursheed Abbasi, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Dr. Tauseef Ahmed Khan, Sardar Liaquat Kashmiri, Akhtar Shaheen Rind, Riaz Mir, and others.
Karachi :A wave of hostility against journalists and media has swept across the country, targeting media professionals. The question now is of the survival of the media and journalists — for which the journalistic community across the nation must unite. The struggle will not stop until the murderers of anchorperson Imtiaz Mir and journalist Tufail Rind are brought to justice.
These views were expressed by speakers addressing the protest held outside the Karachi Press Club, which included KUJ President Tahir Hasan Khan, PFUJ Treasurer Lala Asad Pathan, Assistant Secretary General Javed Chaudhry, FEC Member Khursheed Abbasi, former KUJ President Sarfaraz Ahmed, Professor Dr. Tauseef Ahmed Khan, KUJ General Secretary Sardar Liaquat Kashmiri, Akhtar Shaheen Rind from Anchors Club, and others. Imtiaz Mir’s brothers Riaz Mir and Ayub Mir also addressed the protest.
Speakers said the entire journalist community stands with the families of the martyred journalists. The protest was called by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ). Addressing the gathering, the speakers said that unless journalists stand united, such killings will continue, as the murder of any journalist is an attack on press freedom.
Speaking at the protest, the brother of slain journalist Imtiaz Mir, Riaz Mir, revealed that it has been twenty days since his brother was murdered, yet the nominated suspects have still not been arrested.
The speakers further stated that the motives behind the killings of all journalists who have been martyred so far must be made public. They said that at one time, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa used to be a killing field for journalists, but now the situation in Sindh has become even worse. The murders of Imtiaz Mir and Tufail Rind are the ultimate warning — journalists will no longer remain silent with mere protests.
They cautioned the police against dismissing such incidents as personal enmities to cover them up. The speakers demanded that not only the murderers of the slain journalists but also their backers must be brought to justice.
They urged the rulers to reflect on why the land of saints, Sindh, is being turned into a killing ground for journalists.
In his concluding remarks, Karachi Union of Journalists President Tahir Hasan Khan thanked all participants, noting that despite the roads surrounding the Press Club being sealed, a large number of journalists attended the protest. During the demonstration, the participants chanted powerful slogans and expressed strong solidarity with the martyred journalists.
Issued by:
Sardar Liaquat Kashmiri
General Secretary, Karachi Union of Journalists
