Journalists in Quetta Hold Protest Rally on World Press Freedom Day Against Controversial PICA Act

Quetta: On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, journalists in Quetta organized a large protest rally under the call of the Balochistan Union of Journalists (BUJ) to raise their voices against the growing threats to press freedom, free expression, and journalists’ rights. The rally, which began from the Quetta Press Club, saw significant participation from reporters, correspondents, and media professionals from TV channels, newspapers, and digital media.
The participants of the rally carried banners and placards with their demands, highlighting the need for protection of journalists and their basic rights. The protest march moved from Court Road to the Municipal Corporation premises, where a demonstration was also held.
In their speeches during the protest, Irfan Saeed, President of Quetta Press Club, and Khalil Ahmed, President of BUJ, emphasized the lack of attention to the increasing issues faced by journalists in Balochistan. They criticized the owners of TV channels and newspapers who, despite receiving millions in government advertising, were exploiting their workers to the extent that they were failing to pay salaries in accordance with the government’s minimum wage policy.
The speakers pointed out that journalists in Balochistan continue to risk their lives to perform their duties under extremely difficult conditions, but neither their jobs nor their safety is guaranteed. This, they said, has led to growing concerns among media workers in the region.
The speakers also condemned the imposition of obstacles to press freedom, particularly focusing on the controversial PICA (Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act) law, which they claimed deprived journalists of their fundamental right to freedom of expression. Additionally, the continuous closure of TV channel bureaus in Quetta and the arbitrary dismissal of staff were strongly criticized.
The rally concluded with a call for serious and long-term actions to provide constitutional and legal protection to press freedom and ensure the safety of journalists. The journalists reiterated their demand for meaningful steps to address the challenges faced by media professionals in the province.