Journalists' demo, reax to Supreme Court decision on Musharraf re-election
(19 Nov 2007) 1. Wide of journalists protesting against the government's censorship of media 2. Various journalists protesting holding anti government banners and placards 3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Omer Farooq, Journalist for AVT Channel "This decision by the Supreme Court will not at all be taken seriously by anyone, anyone in the country, whether civil society, journalists, (or the) legal fraternity. No one will pay any heed to (the) Supreme Court's decision if it comes in favour of the president or if it rejects cases of the president's legitimacy question, so it does not have any credibility." 4. Journalists holding banners calling for freedom of speech 5. Wide of protest STORYLINE: About 150 Pakastani journalists protested in Islamabad on Monday calling for the lifting of media restrictions and criticising the Supreme Court ruling which dismissed legal challenges to President Musharraf's continued rule. The reconstituted Supreme Court dismissed five of six petitions challenging the legality of Musharraf's re-election as president. The ten government-appointed judges rejected the petitions after lawyers for two presidential contenders and three political parties told the court they didn't want the petitions to be heard by the judges, who had been sworn in under a provisional constitutional order. The court was expected to hear the remaining petition filed by a presidential candidate on Thursday, but the court was also expected to turn it down, paving the way for Musharraf to be sworn in for another five-year term. One of the protesting journalists said the Supreme Court ruling in favour of Musharraf lacked credibility. Omer Farooq, a Journalist with AVT Channel, said: "This decision by the Supreme Court will not at all be taken seriously by anyone, anyone in the country, whether civil society, journalists, (or the) legal fraternity." Musharraf has promised that he will step down as the chief of army staff after taking the oath of office and that elections would be held in early January. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
