Journalists end protest after govt accepts demands

LAHORE: Council of Pakistan Press Clubs and Regional Union of Journalists ended their eight hours long protest in front of Punjab Assembly after successful negotiations with Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.
Punjab government spokesperson Zaeem Hussain Qadri assured the journalists that the meeting of Punjab Journalists Housing Foundation would be held within 10 days. He said development works at B, C and E blocks would be initiated on immediate basis. Agreement with the government about illegal residents would also be followed, he added. He announced construction of journalists’ colonies at the center of all the Punjab districts. He said the committees including DCOs and representatives of press club would be made for medical insurance of local journalist and red-tapism would be ended in order to ensure assistance of journalists from sports fund.
The government accepted all demands of a delegation of journalists comprising Council of Pakistan Press Clubs Convenor Arshad Ansari and Regional Union of Journalists President Shafqat Hussain Gilani at a meeting held at CM House. Zaeem assured that the journalists whose plots are missing or have buildings already constructed will be given alternative plots. Punjab Journalists Housing Foundation has taken possession of F Block land and preparation of master development plan will be started within a week.
Lahore Press Club President Arshad Ansari said unity and strength of journalists has proved that no one could suppress them. He said if the government did not fulfill its promises, they would again block this chowk with even more force. He said if the demands were not met in ten days, protest would be extended.
Lahore Press Club Secretary Afzal Talib, Vice-president Nadeem Basra, senior journalist Syed Imtiaz Rashid, Waseem Farooq, PUJ President Hamid Riaz, PUJ (Dastoor) president and others also spoke on the occasion.