PESHAWAR
The journalist community on Tuesday organized a protest demonstration outside Peshawar Press Club (PPC) against the registration of a case against a senior journalist under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca).
A case against the senior journalist and member of the PPC and KhUJ Irfan Khan has been lodged by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
The protesters, led by KhUJ President Kashif Uddin Syed, strongly condemned the case and termed it an attempt to suppress press freedom. The demonstration was attended by dozens of journalists, including PPC M. Riaz, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ Workers) President Shamim Shahid, and former KhUJ President Nasir Hussain.
Addressing the gathering, Kashif Uddin Syed stated that the Peca Act is a black law that has been rejected by the journalist community in the past. He demanded that the case against Irfan Khan be withdrawn immediately, warning that failure to do so would be seen as an attempt to suppress journalism.
The protesters emphasized that democracy in Pakistan can only survive with a free media and press. They warned that any attempt to silence journalists would not only be unconstitutional but also a restriction on the public’s right to information.
The demonstration concluded with a resolution demanding the repeal of the PECA and the withdrawal of cases against journalists. The government was warned that if the case against Irfan Khan is not withdrawn, the protest movement would be expanded, and a large-scale demonstration would be held at the KP Assembly.
