Strict Action Should Be Taken Without Hesitation Against Fake Elements Pursuing Personal Interests Under the Guise of Journalism: BUJ and Quetta Press Club
Quetta (Daily Qudrat Quetta) — The leadership of the Balochistan Union of Journalists (BUJ) and the Quetta Press Club, expressing deep concern over continuous complaints received from citizens, government departments, police, private institutions, and individuals regarding fake journalists and organizations, has said that individuals and groups wearing the guise of journalism are active these days. Authorities must verify their affiliation with their media organizations and the representative bodies BUJ or Quetta Press Club, and must take strict legal action against fake elements without hesitation.
In a joint statement by BUJ President Manzoor Ahmad, General Secretary Shah Hussain Tarin, and the entire cabinet, along with Quetta Press Club President Irfan Saeed, General Secretary Ayub Tarin, and other cabinet members, concern was expressed that certain individuals and self-styled groups, in the name of journalists and journalism, are meeting government departments, police, private institutions, and personalities to pursue personal interests, complaints and reports of which are continuously reaching both representative bodies.
The joint statement clarified that the Balochistan Union of Journalists is the sole representative professional organization of journalists across the province affiliated with the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), which has been continuously struggling for the last 60 years for freedom of the press, the right to expression, and the rights of journalists, while the Quetta Press Club is the largest press club in Balochistan and the only press club in Quetta. Professional journalists affiliated with both institutions have a prominent place in the region’s journalism and a long history of sacrifices.
The leadership of BUJ and Quetta Press Club categorically clarified that they have no connection with such fake journalists and so-called groups. They appealed to every citizen, the government, government departments, private institutions, and important personalities to exercise complete caution and, before meeting anyone calling themselves a journalist, mandatorily verify their affiliation with their media organization, BUJ, or Quetta Press Club. If the affiliation is not proven, they are authorized to take legal action against such elements, and immediate and strict action should be taken against them, while BUJ and the Press Club are committed to all kinds of cooperation in this regard.
