PFUJ to celebrate 2020 as ‘Year of Press freedom’

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), which has completed 70 years of its existence, will celebrate 2020 as “Year of Press Freedom and Protection of Economic Rights” of workers of the media industry.

The announcement was made by newly elected President of PFUJ Zulfikar Shahzada and Secretary General Nasir Zaidi in a joint statement issued in Islamabad today (Sunday). Announcing the year-long celebrations, the PFUJ president and secretary general said that the Union will hold seminars in the federal capital and all four provincial capitals to highlight the PFUJ’s long history of struggle for the press freedom as well economic rights of the workers.

“PFUJ has played a leading role in restoring freedom of expression, economic rights of workers as well as civil liberties throughout 70 years of its existence, including heroic movements against the military dictatorial rules in the country,” the joint statement said.

The two leaders said that the media industry and its workers were once again faced with worst kind of restrictions on the freedom of expression as well as strangulation of economic rights of the workers as such the PFUJ has decided to reignite the spirit of resistance among the workers to stand up for the protection of their economic rights and freedom of expression which are under threat from the government and state institutions alike.”

PFUJ President Zulfikar Shahzada and Secretary General Nasir Zaidi said that the Union leadership has decided to constitute a committee headed by former PFUJ Secretary General Mazhar Abbass to formulate programmes and organise events for the entire Year 2020.

They said seminars and conferences in collaboration with civil rights organisations will be held across the country where senior journalists’ will highlight the PFUJ struggle as well as reiterate their commitment to fight against all those who are trying to impose restrictions on the freedom of expression on one pretext or the other.

“Journalists have stood against repressive laws in the past and they won’t allow anyone to restrict freedom of press under any pretext,” the two leaders said.

The joint statement said that all the UJs across the country will also be organising and holding such seminars and workshops throughout the year in their respective areas.

Shahzada Zulfikar and Nasir Zaidi said that the committee headed by Mazhar Abbass has also been authorsied to publish a social magazine during this year which should highlight the PFUJ struggle.