New batch of journalists takes over at hunger-strike camp
By our correspondent
KARACHI: The journalists' hunger strike against government's victimisation policy against press entered the second day on Tuesday at Karachi Press Club with organizers, the KUJ, pledging to continue the struggle till complete victory.
The second batch of journalists, comprising Aftab Syed of The News, Aleemuddin Pathan of Dawn, Abdul Quddoos of Amn and Arshad Husain of The Finance, began its 24-hour hungar-strike. They replaced Shafiuddin Ashraf, Warasat Husain, Ahfaz-ur-Rahman and Shabbar Azmi. Press workers, journalists, trade union leaders and intellectuals continued to visit the camp.
Benazir Bhutto and other PPP leaders, as well as former Sindh CM and PPP Senator Syed Qaim Ali Shah, also visited the camp. They assured journalists of their full support and expressed solidarity with press. Benazir also called for immediate repeal of black laws governing the media. Dr Farooq Sattar of Muttahida, while visiting the camp along with MPA Muhhamd Husain and other party leaders, expressed solidarity with the journalists struggle.
Central leader of PONM and chief of Awami Tehreek, Rasool Bux Palejo, while meeting the hunger-strikers said that journalists had always been the vanguard of the struggle for freedom of expression and press.
He lamented the rulers for coerosing and trying to make the press an instrument for their vested interests. Others who visited the camp included PPP Senator Raza Rabbani, Malik Ghulam Sarwar Bagh of PPP (SB), leaders of People's Unity, Habib Bank Workers' Front.