Journalists protest in Gilgit over attempts to curb press freedom

Journalists in Gilgit took to the streets and staged a protest against issuance of notices to various local newspapers by Gilgit-Baltistan bureaucracy for publishing stories 'critical' of the regional government.

About two dozen journalist protested outside the Chief Secretary House in the region.

Dawn quoted the protesting journalists as saying that issuance of notices to newspapers was akin to attack on the freedom of press.

The Gilgit Press Club, GB newspapers society and GB Editors Forum had given the protest call.

The protesters were seen holding placards and banners inscribed with slogans condemning the attempts to curb freedom of press.

They also chanted against the GB government and the bureaucracy for trying to gag the media outlets.

The assistant commissioner of Gilgit had recently, exercising his powers as sub-divisional magistrate, issued notices to the people in-charge of two dailies and a monthly magazine for allegedly publishing news stories against the government of Gilgit-Baltistan.

Similarly, a show-cause notice was issued to a daily by deputy commissioner Ghanche had issued for publishing a scandalous item against members of GBLA.

Deputy commissioner Gilgit also issued a notice to a daily for publishing a news story criticising him.

The people taking part in the protest alleged that the local administration was attempting to curtail media freedom on the directives of the GB government.