PESHAWAR: Accusing Pushto radio stations associated with the Voice of America (VOA) for spreading negative propaganda, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) directed its affiliated organisations throughout Federally Administrative Tribal Areas (FATA) to stage protest rallies and demonstration.
In this respect, the first demonstration will be arranged by Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba Khyber Agency, affiliated with JUI-F, at Bab-i-Khyber on Thursday, followed by similar protest processions and rallies to be held in the other six tribal agencies and frontier regions. In South Waziristan Agency, protest rallies in Ahmadzai Wazir and Mehsud dominated areas will be held on two different days. The protests are scheduled to be held over about three weeks and will conclude with a rally at Dera Ismael Khan on November 30.
The JUI-F accused the United States (US) media organs like Deewa Radio, Mashaal Radio and Radio Azadi for insulting and making jokes about Islamic norms, working against Pakistan’s solidarity, launching negative propaganda against security and defence organs and propagating a one-sided narrative against political future of FATA. The JUI-F directed its affiliated organisations to stage demonstrations and processions, and to set ablaze effigies of the American organs, with an aim to make the Pashtoon community aware of their “nefarious designs”.
In reaction, the FATA Reforms Movement assured the media organs of its whole-hearted support and denounced the JUI-F and its affiliated organisations’ move.
When contacted by Pakistan Today, FATA JUI-F chief Mufti Abdul Shakoor confirmed calling organisations affiliated with the party to arrange protest processions and rallies. He said that the US had for several years been involved not only in acts against Islamic countries but also killing innocent people, especially tribesmen, through drones. On such grounds, he said that the protest scheduled against Pushto channels of VOA was justified.
The Tribal Union of Journalists leader Qazi Fazlullah denounced JUI-F’s move, calling it uncalled for. He said that the JUI-F leaders wanted to curb press freedom and pressurize media people in tribal areas, adding that they would not be allowed to “harm press freedom or terrorise fellow journalists”. He said that the tribal union of journalists would approach journalist organisations from all over the country in this connection.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists-Barna group (PFUJ) through a press statement also denounced the move and urged the JUI-F leaders to call back its protest. He added that in case the political party failed to do so, journalists from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA will be justified in the steps they take for their safety and press freedom. PFUJ senior vice president assured FATA journalists of whole-hearted support in this respect and demanded of the government to a take notice of JUI-F protest schedule.
