World News | Pakistan Journalists Hold Demonstration for Rights in Punjab Province

Lahore [Pakistan], December 1 (ANI): Scores of journalists associated with regional newspapers in Pakistan's Punjab province took out a demonstration on Tuesday to push the Imran Khan government to meet several of their demands.

The participants, led by Regional Union of Journalists (RUJ) President Shafqat Gilani, conducted a long march and staged a symbolic sit-in at the Assembly building on The Mall, Dawn newspaper reported.

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The demands of the journalists included housing schemes, insurance, health care and social security, government funding for all press clubs, and an end to all kinds of censorship on freedom of expression.

France-based International media rights watchdog Reporters Without Borders (known by its French acronym RSF) said that acts of "brazen censorship" and the military's role influence over the government have "increased dramatically" since Imran Khan came to power.

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"After reining in the traditional media, the [military and intelligence services] has set about purging the Internet and social media of content not to its liking," Al Jazeera quoted RSF's statement.

It further stated that Pakistan ranked 145 out of 180 countries in RSF's World Press Freedom Index 2021. (ANI)

(The above story is verified and authored by ANI staff, ANI is South Asia's leading multimedia news agency with over 100 bureaus in India, South Asia and across the globe. ANI brings the latest news on Politics and Current Affairs in India & around the World, Sports, Health, Fitness, Entertainment, & News. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)