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Students vow to continue struggle
ISLAMABAD, Dec 10, 2007: The Student Action Committee has announced that it will
give another nationwide call for action in the immediate aftermath of the
lifting of emergency on December 15 until all the other demands of the movement
were accepted by the government.
It condemned the ongoing repression on
students and other pro- democracy forces, particularly students and lawyers
arrested from outside Justice Shahid Siddiqui's home in Lahore.
Convener
of the committee's Rawalpindi/Islamabad chapter, Alia Amirali, said students and
other pro-democracy forces believed that just like when Gen Musharraf took off
his uniform the lifting of emergency on December 15 did not represent a
meaningful step towards democratisation.
She said the students'
principled demands for a complete withdrawal of the Army from politics,
restoration of the pre- November 3 judiciary, freedom of the media, restoration
of student unions and an end to the class system of education remained intact
and that the struggle of students would not cease on December 15.
She
pointed out that all political parties willing to participate in what were sure
to be completely compromised elections would effectively be shooting themselves
in the foot besides betraying the thousands of lawyers, political workers,
journalists and students on the street for genuine change.
Meanwhile, a
protest camp was set up outside Rawalpindi- Islamabad Press Club's camp office
on Sunday under the aegis of Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists against
media curbs and controversial amendments to Pemra and the registration of press
and publications ordinances.
Speaking on the occasion, RIUJ president
Afzal Butt said the media in Pakistan was facing worst state oppression. He
called for independence of judiciary, restoration of the constitution and the
fundamental human rights.
He said the journalists would continue their
struggle till the black laws meant to muzzle the press were abolished. Dawn
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