Pakistani journalist body announces press freedom drive

In this picture taken on June 28, 2018, Pakistani journalists broadcast live news from the Supreme Court in Islamabad. Facing abductions, censorship and financial ruin, journalists in Pakistan say they are under unprecedented pressure to bend to authorities' will as the country heads to nationwide polls, sparking allegations that the military is overseeing a "silent coup". (AFP)

• The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) said in a statement that the hardships faced by media will have a negative impact on the credibility of the elections set for July 25
• The Pakistani media is facing unannounced censorship claims the PFUJ — and demanding the interim government and election commission look into the matter

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has launched a “Press Freedom Movement from July 5 onwards against the alleged unannounced censorship being faced by Pakistani media and the curtailing of the distribution of the daily Dawn in several parts of the country,” the journalist body said in a statement.
“The PFUJ decided to launch the movement on July 5, as the black day, the day the 1977 martial law was declared, which was followed by the total ban on independent and free media in the country,” PFUJ President Afzal Butt and Secretary General Ayub Jan Sarhadi said in joint statement issued late on Tuesday evening.
“The decision to launch a movement was announced after consultation with units from all over Pakistan, Black flags will be raised on all press clubs on July 5 in Pakistan.”
On July 9, journalists will set up camps outside the Dawn offices, one of Pakistan’s prominent media groups, in solidarity with the media house, PFUJ said.
“The Dawn newspaper is now not available to the citizens in several parts of the country and Dawn television (transmissions) are also not available in several localities,” the PFUJ said in a statement. “This is not only an infringement on the right to freedom of expression, this is also an infringement of the rights of the citizen in making a free choice in the consumption of media.”
The PFUJ leadership in a statement said that the hardships faced by the media will have a negative impact on the credibility of the elections scheduled for July 25.
“Union leaders have advised the interim government and election commission to look into the matter and ensure the circulation of Dawn is not curtailed,” the PFUJ said.