ISLAMABAD Office bearers of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), All Pakistan Photojournalists Association (APPA) and various government and non-governmental departments on Saturday condemned the Punjab Assembly resolution against media and termed it an open attack on freedom of press. A large number of people belonging to all segments of society particularly media persons also observed black day and assembled in front of the National Press Club against the Punjab Assembly resolution. The participants of demonstration condemned the Punjab Assemblys coercive act of restricting media terming it an attack on freedom of expression by the public representatives in the Punjab Assembly. They also termed it a calculated move to undermine the role of the media and to divert the attention of public from real issues towards blaming media for all ills. They demanded of Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif to intervene in this situation and take strong action against those who were involved in this brutal attack on journalists. They said that it is the duty of the media to highlight the ills in the society and the issue of the fake degrees is in fact being vigorously launched and pursued by the PML-N leadership. The PFUJ participants observed that we are in a war like situation, created by extremists and terrorists, the entire nation is paying heavy price of it, the national economy is at the brink of disaster, but at such critical juncture the Punjab assembly opted to push the media on wall instead of pondering for such highly important issues. While speaking on the occasion Tariq Chaudhry, a media person said that there was no such resolution in the history of Punjab Assembly. Sajjad Haider, President of All Pakistan Photojournalists Association said that media facilitated PML-N for reaching in the Assembly, but today the way this resolution was adopted clearly indicates that they do not have any respect for rule of law and independence of media. In his address Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin, Labour Union general secretary CDA appreciated the media role for combating against terrorism. Youth also gathered in front of the press club for registering their protest they opined that the resolution passed in the Punjab Assembly against media and torture on journalists by the MPAs was highly condemnable. They called upon the Punjab government to reverse the resolution regarding media saying that they gathered here for independence of media and judiciary and would continue their protest till the Punjab Government decision of taking this resolution back. While talking to TheNation, Anis a youngster revealed that media is highlighting corruption cases of the influential. Thats why he further continued that a mere technical and academic issue of Educational Qualification and Degrees has been converted into row with media by the treasury benches of the Punjab Assembly.