Journalist sit-in against PMDA continues for second day in Isb

The journalists’ sit-in outside the parliament house continued on the second consecutive day against the proposed Pakistan Media Development Authority (PMDA), reported 24NewHD TV channel.

On Monday, President of the National Press Club also known as Islamabad Press Club (NPC) Shakeel Anjum, NPC Secretary Anwar Raza, NPC Co-Secretary Finance Saghir Chaudhry and other officials participated in the sit-in. The Rawalpindi Islamabad Journalists Union (RIUJ) and officials of press clubs from other cities are also participating in the sit-in.

PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will visit the sit-in at 2 pm while JUIF supremo and PDM President Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman will likely visit the protest site to show solidarity with the journalists.  

JUI-F leaders and several members of the National Assembly from Opposition parties also joined the protest. The Pakistan Bar Council, Supreme Court Bar Association, High Court Bar Association, civil society, trade unions, and student organisations also participated in the protest rally and sit-in.

On Sunday, opposition leaders from different political parties also joined in to show solidarity and criticise the government's proposal. Politicians who joined the protest were former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, PPP leader Farhatullah Babar, Senator Akram Dashti and Tahir Bizenjo of the National Party, and PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb.

It is pertinent to note that the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) already expressed solidarity with the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and, in a statement, said that "PMDA is a draconian law"

"The PMDA bill is PTI government's attempt to further stifle freedom of expression in the country," the HRCP said in a statement.