Pakistan Freelance Journalists Association - PFJA

More than 100 journalists were killed in 1994, the wrost year on record for
media staff killed while on duty.
Killings in Algeria & Rawanda dominated a year in which genocide, civil
war & social conflict claimed over 100 lives of journalists & media
workers, says survey report of Pakistan Freelance Journalists Association
(PFJA). In Russia journalists were killed by Mafia.
Even in Pakistan Muhammad Salahuddin, a well-know journalist & editor of
a weekly was barbically murdered in the day light due to his independent
thinking & writings, Rana Javed of The News was murdered by policemen
recently. Journalists in Germany, France, United States, Japan, Belgium &
England however were safe in all respect.

Lahore - A team of journalists would go on hunger strike soon if the
government did not withdraw or prove the charges it levelled against the
journalists.
The decision to this effect was taken at the meeting of the Pakistan
Freelance Journalists Association (PFJA) held on Monday, with its President
Iqbal Yousafi in the chair.
It said the government has not come up with proofs substantaiting the
charges it levelled against newsmen and further demanded of it to either
prove the charges or apologise to both the print and the electronic media
within 48 hours after which a team of journalists would go on hunger
strike.
The speakers at the meeting condemned the government for levelling
baseless allegations against the journalist community to curb the Press
freedom which is hardly awarded.

Pakistan Freelance Journalists Association (PFJA) Monday issued a list of
journalists killed in the struggle for Press freedom in the world during
1996.
The IFJ and Journalists Safety Services sources disclosed that 58
journalists were killed in the world during the year 1996 and Russia was on
the top were 15 journalists were killed in while on assignment. The other
country is Algeria were 8 journalists lost their lives. The number in other
countries is as: India (2), Guatemala (2), Mexico (2), Philippines (2),
Bangladesh (1), Indonesia (1), Cambodia (1), Angola (1), Columbia (1),
Tajikistan (1), Turkey (1), Ukraine (1) and USA (1)

Lahore: The Pakistan Freelance Journalists Association (PFJA) in a emergent
meeting chaired by its President Iqbal Yousafi has deplored the killing of
Iranian News Agency IRNA' s representative in Afghanistan Mehmood Saeedi.
The meeting said that some hidden hand is active to create differences
between Muslim countries. They said Muslims should be aware of enemies of
peace.
The association members prayed peace for the journalist and courage to
the bereaved family.

Pakistan Freelance Journalists Association (PFJA) has invited applications
from its members for International Press Card (IPC). The IPC will be valid
for two years and be useful in 122 countries. Interested members may send
their applications to secretary coordination, PO Box 740, GPO, Lahore.

A condolence meeting of Pakistan Freelance Journalists Association (PFJA)
was held Wednesday with Iqbal Yousafi, President of Pakistan Freelance
Journalists Association (PFJA) in the chair. The meeting condoled the death
of news editor of The News, Rana Javed and young journalist Wasim Qazi.
Both the journalist fell victim to the vagaries of police and drug pushers.
The meeting demanded condign punishment for the culprits. The association
also lamented that anti-social elements and proclaimed offenders are
allowed to play havoc with the peaceful citizens, while respectable members
of the society are harassed, maltreated and even murdered by those whose
duty it is to protect them.

Lahore: Dec 7, The Pakistan Freelance Journalists Association (PFJA) has
expressed deep sorrow and grief over the sad demise of the renowned
journalist Mian Muhammad Shafi (Meem Sheen). The condolence meeting of the
association, convened on Tuesday with Iqbal Yousafi in the chair, paid rich
tribute to the services rendered by the departed soul for journalism.
Fazulur Rehman, Naeem Qureshi, Khalid Pervaiz Malik and Naveed Bukhari
speaking on the occasion said that Mian Muhammad Shafi (Meem Sheen) was an
important organ of the Pakistan's freedom movement and that his services
both for Pakistan and journalism will be hard to forget. Prominent among
the rest who also spoke on the occasion were Rehman Zulfi, Zafar Ali Raja,
Tahir Lahori, Ibrahim Tahir, Imtiaz Rashid Qureshi, Afaq Ali Khan, Idrees
Urmani, Kamal Rizvi, Ahsan Bashir and Habibur Rehman Urmani. Later Fateha
war offered for the departed soul.

Mir Shakil-ur-Rehman newly-elected president of APNS will serve his community effectively and better than before, Iqbal Yousafi, President Pakistan Freelance Journalists Association (PFJA) hoped in a felicitation message on his election as President of APNS on behalf of PFJA. Office-bearers and members greeted him adding that APNS during his presidentship will not only protect the rights of APNS members but also look after the interest of Journalists community.

Pakistan Freelance Journalists Association (PFJA) has condoled the death of
Zaheer Kashmiri and the mother of Tahir Majeed.
In a condolence meeting on Tuesday, Freelance Journalists said that
death of Zaheer Kashmiri was a great national loss. The meeting paid
glowing tributes to the services of the journalist. Fateha was also offered
for the departed soul at the end of the meeting.

Lahore: 12 March, The Pakistan Freelance Journalists Association (PFJA) has
decided to celebrate the the fourthcoming Eid in a simple way in the
perspective of atrocities and human rights violations in Kashmir and
Bosina.
The President PFJA Mr. Iqbal Yousafi has appealed to the journalist
community to observe Eid in simple way.
He also urged the people to donate more money to beleaguered Muslims of
Bosina and Kashmir.

Lahore: President Pakistan Freelance Journalists Association (PFJA) Iqbal
Yousafi and other PFJA office-bearers have injured after the health of
journalist Saifullah Khalid, who was injured in firing by miscreants, at
hospital.
On the occasion he demanded of Punjab Governor and Chief Minister to
immediately arrest the accused and criticised government on its failure to
provide security to newsmen.

Pakistan Freelance Journalists Association (PFJA) has demanded of the
government to immediately withdraw the duty imposed on the import of
news-print.
In a press statement, Iqbal Yousafi, President PFJA, said this unjust
decision of the government will create great crisis for the news-print
industry. He said prices of books in syllabus will also increase.
The existing prices of newspapers are already out of common man's reach.
If duty on import of newsprint is increased the prices of newspapers will
also go up.

Nov 3: Pakistan Freelance Journalists Association (PFJA) has strongly
condemned the illegal punishment meted out to a journalist Mr Mehmood to
harras him. The president of PFJA Iqbal Yousafi has described this act of
South. Waziristan as criminal.
He described to conduct of the political agent as collusive in respect to
the ex-minister and notorious smuggler allegedly involved in heroin case.
Mr Yousafi has also sent telegram to President and Prime Minister in which
he has requested them to take notice of serious criminal conduct of the
political agent and has sought his dismissal & dutiful journalist.

Advisor to CM for Anti Corruption has nominated
Naeem Qureshi, Khalid Pervaiz Malik (Sheikhupura), Mazhar Ali Adeeb
(Lahore), Kamal Rizvi (Rawalpindi/Islamabad), Afsar Khan (Multan) and
Kaukab khan Zaar (Lahore, all freelance journalists as members of Anti
Corruption Committee.
The Pakistan Freelance Journalists Association (PFJA) has hailed the
decision and hoped that the nominated journalists will work day and night
against corruption.

Pakistan Freelance Journalists Association (PFJA) has expressed grief and
concern over the killing of two journalists by snipers in Wana. PFJA
President Iqbal Yousafi has also condemned government for its lopsided
response to the tragedy.
The meagre amount of compensation for the families of the deceased
journalists shows the degree of priority government attaches to the lives
of important section of society", the PFJA meeting noted.

Lahore: The Pakistan Freelance Journalists Association (PFJA) Wednesday
hailed the posting of Kamran Lashari as the Punjab Information Secretery.
In a press release, the Pakistan Freelance Journalists Association (PFJA)
said Lashari always took interest in journalist's problems. PFJA President
Iqbal Yousafi said Lashari was an active and effective officer.

The Pakistan Freelance Journalists Association (PFJA) President Iqbal
Yousafi, office-bearers and members have condoled with News Editor of Daily
Jang Usman Yousaf on his wife's death. They prayed Allah Almight rest the
departed soul in peace.