Journalists boycotted Sindh Assembly proceedings here Friday (6th May 2005) to protest the use of brute force against journalists in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad.
The boycott was staged soon after recitation from the Holy Quran and Naat Sharif. They staged a sit-in at the stairs of assembly building and raised slogans against the police excesses and also adopted a resolution. 

The media committee of journalists covering the Sindh Assembly proceedings in its meeting strongly condemned the police brutalities against the media and decided to boycott coverage of the provincial assembly.

The meeting resolved the use of brute force against the media in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad on the day when they were observing the International Press Freedom Day and earlier when a leader of a political party returning home on April 16, had made regime’s credential dubious and reduced its commitment to Press freedom, tolerance and respect for fundamental rights to a mere facade.
Taking exception to the government’s seemingly deliberate use of strong-arm tactics to gag the Press, the committee decided to boycott the coverage of Sindh Assembly proceedings to demonstrate solidarity with the community.

It demanded of the Sindh government to tender public apology and pass a resolution in the assembly deploring state terrorism against journalists. It also demanded stern action against those who ordered and participated in police action and pay compensation to the affected journalists.

The journalists also warned the government against such abuse of law. It also appealed to editors to join the working journalists in their protest because their dignity and rights have also been abused and subverted. The committee also urged the professional representative organisations of the media community to close their ranks and step up pressure on the government.

The committee also condemned the withdrawal of resolution in the National Assembly by the government and demand its reversal and that the findings of that committee should be made public within a week.
Speaking on the occasion, head of the media committee’s senior journalists Shamimur Rehman termed the police action against journalists as a shameful act.

Provincial ministers Sardar Manzoor Khan Panhwar and Qamar Mansoor and treasury MPA Abdul Qudoos met with the protesting journalists and tried to persuade them to end the boycott.

Muttaheda Majlis Amal led by its Parliamentary Party leader in Sindh Assembly Moulana Umer Sadiq also boycotted the assembly proceedings and met with the protesting journalists to express solidarity with them.

Adviser to Sindh Chief Minister for Information Salahuddin Haider also visited the protesting journalists and assured them full support on behalf of Muttehda Qaumi Movement (MQM). He said his party has always raised voice for the journalist community and supported their struggle for free Press.

MPA of Mohajir Qaumi Movement Younus Khan also supported struggle of the journalists’ community. Leader of Opposition in Sindh Assembly Nisar Ahmed Khuhro also visited the protesting journalists and joined their sit-in. He lashed out at the government for use of force against the journalists when they were observing International Press Freedom Day. He said that this act of government was a manifestation that it wanted to muzzle the Press.