It is the 82nd day since the suspension of 24NewsHD as the people are deprived of their right to watch their favourite news TV channel amid the rising curbs on media in Pakistan.
As a result, journalists and their representative bodies, as well as civil society, are protesting across the country to press the government and PEMRA (Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority) for reversing the decision.
Last week, the protesting journalists in Islamabad were stopped from marching towards the Parliament House. However, the participants continued raising their voice for media freedom and against the curbs imposed on freedom of expression in the country at D-Chowk.
Speaking on the occasion, Hamid Mir warned that the next protest won’t stop at D-Chowk. “Send us prison or end censorship,” Mir demanded.
Munizae Jahangir – daughter of renowned human rights activist late Asma Jahangir – said journalists were being dragged in courts. “Today, every segment [of society] in Pakistan is demanding its rights. We have identified the unidentified persons,” she remarked.
This protest in the federal capital was part of a series of events held across the country against censorship and victimisation of those media houses which stand for media freedom and the right to share information. People described 24NewsHD as the voice of the oppressed and said the government move was unacceptable.