Supporters of convicted murderer Mumtaz Qadri carry a banner bearing his image during a protest against his execution in Islamabad in this March 4, photo. Tens of thousands of supporters chanted and threw rose petals March 1 at an ambulance bearing the body of Qadri, executed for killing liberal Punjab governor Salman Taseer. (Photo by AFP)
Dozens of journalists took to the streets of Lahore March 5 to protest against attacks on media workers following the execution of Mumtaz Qadri, a police bodyguard who gunned down former Punjab governor Salman Taseer.
They said the violence was triggered by a government ban on media covering Qadri’s funeral as part of a policy by authorities not to cover events that could be exploited by terrorists or extremists.
Qadri shot Taseer dead in Islamabad in January 2011 for speaking out against the country’s controversial blasphemy laws following a death sentence being handed down to Asia Bibi, a Catholic woman. Many Muslims saw Qadri as a hero and condemned his prosecution and execution.
The funeral coverage ban angered hardline Islamist groups, whose supporters launched attacks on press clubs and journalists in several Pakistani cities on March 4.
Mobs also ransacked the Karachi and Lahore offices of Aaj TV, a news channel
Meanwhile, Rana Muhammad Azeem, president of the Punjab Union of Journalists told ucanews.com he was beaten up while trying to negotiate the release of four media workers taken hostage by a group of Islamists in Lahore. The four journalists were later released.
During Saturday’s protest that ended at the Lahore Press Club, journalists criticized the news blackout of the funeral and called on religious hardliners to remain peaceful.
"The government failed to provide us security. The authorities should look at themselves before banning freedom of expression. Social media enjoys total freedom while TV channels are being suppressed, the protesters said in a statement.
Father Peter Shangara head of Faisalabad Diocese’s communications office said although justice on Qadri was served, the government could have handled the aftermath of the execution better.
"The law took its due course in case of a murderer; Qadri was no mujahid (holy warrior)," he said.
"However, only journalists can fill the gap and help in removing misunderstandings between state and the people amid war on terror."
Pakistan's independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan expressed alarm over the attacks on the media.
“All those who had instigated and carried out the violence to intimidate the media must be brought to justice," it said.
While welcoming official condemnation of the attacks by national and provincial governments and their vows to protect media freedoms, the commission said words alone could not assuage the fears of Pakistani media, which it said had been under attack from many quarters for years.