PFUJ strongly condemns harassment of journalists

• PFUJ notes that PTI workers openly threatened journalists during Imran Khan's workers' address in Lahore.
• Expresses grave concerns over fact that PTI workers prevented Geo News from covering event.
• "This attitude is very disappointing and does not suit a party that claims to uphold democratic norms," leaders say.

The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) strongly condemned the harassment of media persons, bemoaning the attitude of the PTI leadership that "seems to be turning a blind eye to these fascist tactics".

According to a statement issued on Thursday, PFUJ President Shahzada Zulfiqar and Secretary-General Nasir Zaidi said that the PTI workers openly threatened journalists during Imran Khan's workers' address in Lahore.

They expressed grave concerns over the fact that the PTI workers did not let a Geo News reporter put his mic on the podium, preventing him from covering the event.

Read more: PFUJ expresses concern regarding Imran Khan's allegations against journalists

"This flies in the face of Imran Khan's claims that he made several times regarding the freedom of expression and respecting the journalist fraternity,” they said, adding that such attitude amounts to creating hatred against media persons which may have catastrophic impacts on society.

"PFUJ leaders observed that the PTI workers are not only preventing Geo and other channels from covering their events but the social media brigade of the PTI has also been hurling abuses at female journalists carrying out their character assassination and hurling allegations at them without any concrete evidence,” the statement read.

The two leaders bemoaned the attitude of the PTI leadership, which according to them, "seems to be turning a blind eye to these fascist tactics".

Read more: PFUJ asks PM Imran Khan to apologise for tirade against media

"This attitude is very disappointing and does not suit a party that claims to uphold democratic norms," they maintained.

Moreover, the leadership of PFUJ also condemned the officials who reportedly harassed senior journalist Arshad Shariff. "Such harassment should be stopped immediately and the government should take action against those officials who were involved in harassing journalist Arshad Shariff," they said.

“We also urge all political parties to follow democratic traditions and respect the rights of citizens and media persons to criticise them,” they concluded.