Journalists in Pakistan have given a call for countrywide protest on Monday against the passage of the controversial Provincial Assembly Privileges (Amendment) Bill, 2021 by the Punjab Assembly. The call has been given by Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), which claims that the bill has provisions that target press freedom in the Punjab region. As per a statement from PFUJ, all unions of journalists will organise rallies and hoist black flags at press clubs to protest against the bill described as a "brutal" piece of law, local media reported. While the journalists say that the bill would undermine the freedom of the press, the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government as well as opposition parties supports it. "Sledgehammer tactics against the journalists would not be tolerated at any cost," said PFUJ president Shahzada Zulfiqar and secretary-general Nasir Zaidi in a statement.

Source: Hindustan Times July 05, 2021 03:33 UTC