PAKISTAN PRESS

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30234, 12 September 1963, Page 15

PAKISTAN PRESS

Journalists On Strike

I.V.Z, Press Assn. — Copyright) RAWALPINDI. September 10 Wearing black armbands, ebout 500 journalists, proofreaders and others marched in silent procession through Rawalpindi yesterday as part of a one-day strike to protest

against the new Pakistan newspaper law The journalists’ Union has described the law as having been framed to terrorise the newspapers into submission In Rawalpindi, the interim capital, the silent procession tock place from the Press

Club to the Central Secretariat. where a memorandum was handed to the newlyappointed Minister of Information. Mr A. T. Mustafa, demanding the immediate withdrawal of press curbs. In addition, students are on

hunger strike, a petition campaign has started and more public meetings are being held to attack the new law The Pakistan Union . of Journalists said the press curbs were a stunning blow t<> the fundamental rights of free expression in Pakistan.

In Dacca. East Pakistan, journalists were among the several thousand persons who paraded with placards, shouting slogans demanding the repeal of the press law. withdrawal of the blacklisting of three Dacca newspapers and the release of all arrested journalists. Journalists wearing black armbands attended a meeting addressed by Moulana Akram Khan. who. at 92, is the oldest editor on the subcontinent

Later. Mr Khan led the procession through Dacca’s main streets. A former GovernorGeneral and Prime Minister. IKhawaja Nazimuddin. said the press ordinance had been promulgated to perpetuate the rule of force in the country and to gag all honest ettempts by the prass to establish the rule of law.