[Onthebarricades] PAKISTAN: Journalists protest in parliament

[Andy]

http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=World_News&subsection=Pakistan+%26+Sub-Continent&month=June2007&file=World_News2007060713449.xml

Journalists protest in National Assembly against media curbs 
Web posted at: 6/7/2007 1:34:49
Source ::: AFP 
ISLAMABAD . Pakistani journalists chanted slogans in parliament and scuffled with an official yesterday during a protest against curbs on the media by President Pervez Musharraf. 

The speaker of the National Assembly, Chaudhry Amir Hussain, called a half-hour adjournment of the session, which was meant to discuss the upcoming national budget, witnesses said. 

The incident happened after dozens of reporters walked out of the parliamentary press gallery in protest at a decree giving extra powers to a body that regulates television and radio stations. 

The journalists later returned to the gallery, where some of them roughed up a government official. They then chanted: "We want freedom, we want justice." Opposition Islamist MPs also shouted slogans. 

Musharraf on Monday granted the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority tougher powers after criticising coverage of the suspension of chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on March 9. 

The regulator can now seal the premises or confiscate the equipment of television and radio channels, and suspend the licences of offenders. The decree also sharply increases the fine for violation of rules. 

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz earlier Wednesday ordered the immediate withdrawal of a police complaint against 200 journalists who protested the curbs in Islamabad on Monday, an official statement said. 

Meanwhile, a senior lawyer submitted a petition to the Supreme Court on Tuesday challenging the decree and saying it had "stunned" the people of Pakistan. 

"The Supreme Court has received a petition from Mr Zafarullah Khan," a court official said on condition of anonymity. "It will be decided whether to take it up or send it back in due course." 

The rules came into force as three private television stations said the government had blocked their transmissions. 

Chaudhry has become the rallying point for a series of protests against Musharraf's military rule as opposition parties join forces with lawyers and rights groups. 

The protests turned violent in Karachi on May 12 with the deaths of more than 40 people in clashes between pro- and anti-government supporters. 

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