The Advocacy Network (AN), an umbrella group of Christian and other organizations, said its members would stage "effective, peaceful and voiceless protests" against emergency rule, including “zipping up the lips with black tape,” on November 19 in front of the Sargodha Press Club in Punjab province. A similar demonstration was also scheduled for November 21 near the Sargodha Bar Council (SBC), AN said
It came a day after churches and Christian activists held a day of prayer for Pakistan when former prime minister Benazit Bhutto was released from house arrest, seen by some as an answer to prayers.
"It is Gods blessing that the government released Bhutto, and we hope that the new government will successfully hold free, fair and transparent polls in the country," said Ferhan Mazher, the chairman of Christian-leaning rights group, Rays of Development (ROD).
CONCERN REMAINS
However he and others remain concerned about detained Christian activists and a crackdown on media. On Saturday news emerged that Government officials in Islamabad shut down domestic broadcasts by leading Pakistani media outlet Geo television when emergency rule was imposed on November 3.
Since then, network officials say, the government has waged a campaign to financially cripple the station, intimidating advertisers and suspending sports and entertainment programs, the Voice of America (VOA) reported Saturday, November 17 .
Pakistan’s main networks have continued to broadcast abroad through Internet and satellite transmissions. But early Saturday, November 17, Geo officials said the government pressured the networks’ partners in Dubai to stop relaying its overseas transmissions, effectively shutting down their operations.
INDEPENDENT NEWS
Some independent news channels have signed a new broadcast contract that allowed them to return to the airwaves in recent days, but Geo and ARY One World have not.
Geo President Imran Aslam called the contract "draconian," adding that it would allow officials to enter television offices at will, seize equipment and arrest employees.
"There have been indications that they would like to see some of our anchors, some of our hosts, some of our journalists sidelines – so we can be tamed a little bit," he said. "And this is not something we were willing to adhere to."
General Pervez Musharraf, the president, has defended the new media laws as necessary to ensure what he calls "responsible" reporting that does not undermine the government or incite violence. Critics say the laws are part of the broad campaign to crush opposition to emergency rule.
It was expected to pose a challenge for Pakistan’s new interim government appointed Friday, November 16, after for the first time in the country’s recent history the National Assembly of Pakistan completed its 5 year tenure.
FAREWELL SPEECH
Former Prime Minster Shaukat Aziz in his farewell speech at the ceremony urged interim government to continue the policies and war against terrorism. He prayed "for the prosperity of Pakistan and success of the new government."
Pakistan’s Christian minority is closely monitoring the situation amid concerns of rising Islamic extremism and the apparent difficulties President Pervez Musharraf has to fight the militants.
Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte met with General Musharraf and other senior officials in Islamabad and to press them to end emergency rule. VOA quoted Pakistani officials as saying the president told Negroponte that emergency rule is necessary to ensure stability for January elections.
The US official also spoke by phone to Bhutto to hear her perspective on the political situation, amid concerns that upcoming elections in January will not be free, and fair. (Read more from Jawad Mazhar via: www.raysofdevelopment.org ).
