Rally staged in Quetta against non-payment of govt dues to newspapers

QUETTA: Local newspapers, magazines and workers associated with newspaper industry of Balochistan Monday held protest demonstration and a rally here on Monday against non-payment of government dues to local newspapers.

Local editors also set up a protest camp in front of Press Club, Quetta, while a peaceful rally was also taken out in this regard. Central Secretary Information of BNP Agha Hassan Baloch advocate, central leaders Musa Baloch, Qasim Parkani, Member Central Committee of National Party Aslam Baloch, Haider Raisani, Tariq Baloch, Abdul Wakil Mangal, Mir Abdul Sattar, Bahadar Nashnas and other were present to express solidarity with the rally participants on reaching Balochistan Assembly. They staged walk-out from the assembly session in order to express solidarity with journalists associated with print and electronic media.

On this occasion while talking to protesters, opposition leaders Rehmat Saleh Baloch, Nasrullah Zeeray, Yasmin Lehrri and Dr Shama Ishaq expressed concern and said that the local mediamen and newspaper editors had been facing problems due to non-payment of government advertisement dues for last six months. While assuring the protesters every possible cooperation they said that talks would be held with government members and provincial ministers in this regard so that payment to local newspapers would be made possible.

Meanwhile, a protest demonstration was also staged outside Balochistan Assembly. Senior journalist Rasheed Baig, Murtaza Tareen, Major (R) Nazar Hussain Zamurd, Dr Nashnas Lehrri, Behram Baloch, Ali Lehrri, Ghafoor Lango, President Jamiat Ittehad Akhbar Farooshan Abdul Ghani Baloch and others in their addresses said despite approval of Balochistan chief minister non-payment of government advertisement dues was a matter of concern and the members associated with newspapers had been facing problems for six months which led them to live from hand to mouth despite clear orders of Balochistan CM. They condemned the delaying tactics of some elements sitting in bureaucracy on this important and public interest issue. The protesters chanted slogans in favour of their demands and later dispersed peacefully.