Shamsul Islam Naz

PFUJ concerned at lawyers’ excesses against media persons

ISLAMABAD, Feb 28:- The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has taken notice of increasing incidents of excesses against media persons by lawyers, and cautioned that if such a trend did not stop, democratic values and civil liberties would suffer.

In a statement issued here on Sunday, the PFUJ pointed out that TV crew of a renowned channel was maltreated by a group of lawyers in Lahore. The PFUJ termed the incident very unfortunate and a black spot on the face of lawyers who are themselves known as “custodians of civilisation.”.

Referring to recent incident in Lahore in which lawyers, without any provocation and justification, attacked the Geo media team, damaged camera and manhandled other members of the team and prevented them from discharging their professional assignments, the PFUJ said it reflects immaturity among lawyers “who are themselves supposed to fight and struggle for rule of law.”

According to the details, in act of hooliganism, lawyers tortured a Geo correspondent and Anarkali Police SHO on the premises of the District and Session Judge Court on Thursday.  It is said that Smanabad police arrested two people who happen to be brothers of a women lawyer in a case.

ASI Akram of the Samanabad police produced before a court where Ankarali police Naeem Anwar Bajwa and Inspector Zaheer of the Islampura police were also present in connection with different cases.  In the meantie, a group of lawyers attacked the Anarkali SHO and Islampura police inspector, who had nothing to do with the Samanabad arrests, threshed them severely. Lawyers also ripped their uniform, official documents, abused and threatened them with dire consequences. A Geo team rushed to the spot but the lawyers did not let it cover the incident and instead threatened it and deprived Geo News Correspondent Asim Nasir of his card. Lawyers also ripped the camera bag, abused and violently pushed the Geo News correspondent and cameraman.”

“By disgracing the professional persons, the lawyers have not only committed a serious offence but also indulged in creating impediments in the working of media “, the PFUJ argued.

The PFUJ regretted that soon after the “joint movement of the democratic lovers, including media persons, civil society and lawyers, the lawyers have now become intolerant and are frequently involved in scuffles with police, mediamen and ordinary citizens.

The PFUJ said lawyers were undoubtedly one of the organ and had been in the forefront against the dictator Gen Pervaiz Musharaf and for the independence of judiciary.

However, in some incidents, they even physically tortured media persons, police and other people without any rhyme or reason.

“Media played a vital role in the success of lawyers’ movement for restoration judiciary and now  incidents of torture against media persons by lawyers have become order of the day,” the PFUJ asserted.

The more unfortunate aspect is that despite such a bad trend, senior lawyers, bar associations, bar councils are playing the role of a salient spectator and they are yet to take serious notice of such uncalled for and brutal acts on behalf of lawyers which is nothing but classic example of “professional misconduct.”

The major concern in this whole episode is that neither Chief Justice of Lahore High Court nor Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan have taken any notice of such negative and indecent acts of lawyers, thus creating a very bad precedent of “discrimination” and policy of “ignorance” over excesses of lawyers and negation of Constitution of Pakistan which clearly lays down that every one is equal, to law, irrespective of caste, creed, religion, etc.”

“In such a scenario, the PFUJ is justified in demanding that Supreme Court should take notice of “lawyers excesses” and their conduct to take law into their hands and to ensure a conduce environment for media persons for discharging their professional assignments which is in line with the fundamental rights provided in the constitution for freedom of press and people’s right to know.”

Shamsul Islam Naz
Secretary General
PAKISTAN FEDERAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS
12-Nazimuddin Road, F-6/1
Islamabad, Pakistan
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