By Sarmad Ali
(Pakdestiny.com) Not a good day for Pakistani media as Pakistan’s journalists’ body – Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) – has put its weight behind Mumtaz Qadri, the killer of former Punjab governor Salman Taseer, and condemned the government’s action to ban the coverage of his funeral.
What one can say, its sad or shameful act on the part of the PFUJ to support a killer. “PFUJ should releaze that if the media covered the funeral of Qadri there would have been bloodshed in the country. Has those running the PFUJ gone out of mind,” a senior journalist commented while talking to the Pak Destiny.
The PFUJ has demanded that notices issued by authorities to some television channels and newspapers that covered Mumtaz Qadri‘s funeral be immediately withdrawn. The union condemned the ban by PEMRA on this event’s coverage and termed it a violation of Article 19. It warned PFUJ would protest if action was taken against any channel or newspaper.
In a statement, PFUJ pointed out the Pakistan Broadcasters’ Association accepted the unconstitutional ban but on top of that sent news crews to cover the event. This endangered the lives of media persons who were attacked by mobs.
Shame and shame for the PFUJ. Pak Destiny
