JFA expresses concern over shutting down of PoK daily

Guwahati:  Journalists’ Forum Assam (JFA) expressed serious concern
over the shutting down of a largely circulated Urdu newspaper at
Rawlakot in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) by the Islamabad based
government for publishing a survey report showing that majority
respondents rejected Islamabad’s domination over their land.
It may be noted that Daily Mujadala (http://dailymujadala.com/epaper)
recently conducted a survey asking people if they wanted to continue
living under Pakistan, where over 73% of the respondents denounced it
and demanded freedom from the occupation of Islamabad.

Haris Qadeer, editor of the Urdu daily, while responding to JFA
queries from Rawlakot revelaed that most of the respondents wanted
Kashmir to get restored as it was in 1948. They opined that they are
Kashmiris and so they insisted on their independence. The young editor
also confirmed that his newspaper office was sealed by the authority.
It may also be mentioned that India’s foreign minister Sushma Swaraj
had recently asserted that Pakistan administered PoK is an integral
part of the country. She was loud and clear while commenting that the
entire PoK had been illegally occupied by Islamabad.

“The recognized media outlets should enjoy the right to print,
broadcast or telecast various point of views in relation with the
public. The local authorities should honour the freedom of the
newspaper to publish the survey report even though it was not
comfortable for them,” said a statement issued by JFA president Rupam
Barua and secretary Nava Thakuria.