Qayoom Wani voices serious concern over “harassment” of journalists, seeks withdrawal of charges under UAPA against Masrat Zehra

Srinagar: Former President Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC)and former political leader Ab Qayoom Wani on Tuesday expressed his serious concern over the “harassment” of journalists in Jammu and Kashmir. He sought immediate withdrawl of charges under UAPA against female journalist Masrat Zahra.
In a statement issued on Tuesday Wani said ” free,fair and professional journalism is the voice of voiceless people & needs to be encouraged at all levels”, adding that ” harassment of journalist’s fraternity will have adverse effect on professional journalism” .
Saying that “journalists in JK have worked in difficult situations by highlighting the miseries of people and always kept them up to date regarding the developments at state ,national and international level”, Wani said “it is unfortunate that when world is in the grip of COVID -19 and people need to stand together to defeat Covid-19, it looks very bad to see journalist’s in destress at this time when they are playing a commendable role by keeping the public aware about the safety measures and advisories of govt to defeat the COVID 19”. He said journalists reach out to the people in need by putting there lives at risk amid intensifying Covid-19 pandemic spread.
Wani demanded revocation of UAPA against the female photojournalist Masrat Zehra and expressed solidarity with the journalistic fraternity reiterating that freedom of speech and expression as guaranteed by the Constitution of the country.