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CMC protests

against prejudiced

reporting of

foreign news agency

ISLAMABAD: Citizens' Media Commission (CMC) has strongly protested against a foreign news agency's report from Srinagar putting the blame on 'Muslim militants' for the killing of 35 Sikhs in Chadisinghpoora village last evening in Indian occupied Kashmir.

The commission in a press release on Tuesday regretted that the news agency in its report has assigned the identity of the killers without citing a single shred of evidence or quoting a single eye witness.

"The brutal nature of the killings, the targetting and timing of the massacre are clearly aimed to coincide with President Clinton's presence in New Delhi so as to misrepresent and defame the just and honourable struggle of the people of Indian occupied Kashmir against Indian oppression".

The commission said, "there is very high probability of this terrible event being staged by the Indian secret agency 'RAW' in order to damage the reputation of the freedom fighters and also implicate Pakistan in this affair".

The statement said that the report about such a terrible and tragic event does not quote either a single eye witness or any other evidence to establish the religious identity of the killers.

The very first report from this news agency about this gory incident which makes a sweeping claim about the religious identity of the killers, invariably helps from the first impression in the minds of those around the world.

The Citizens Media Commission said, "apart from violating a basic principle of journalism, such irresponsible reporting deepens the existing prejudice against Islam in non-Muslim countries and mis-represents Muslims struggling for freedom from Indian oppression in Kashmir as "killers" and "terrorists".

It urges the news agency to exercise caution while reporting such incidents. It was imperative that "utmost care" is taken before using labels such as "Muslim militants" that are "deliberately promoted by the Indian Government and the Indian propaganda machine".

As if on cue, it states, that various "commentators" have already started appearing on Indian TV channels recounting past killings of Hindus allegedly by "Muslim militants" to reinforce the false images and perceptions.

"The Indian government is capable of going to any lengths in order to achieve its nefarious objectives. Several past instances are on record in this regard", the commission added.

The foreign news agency, it adds, should have exercised professional responsibility and restraint before using the term "Muslim militants". Instead, it should have said, "unknown assailants" or some similar expression.

The commission said, the foreign news agency owes an apology to all Muslims for misrepresenting the facts in this regard.ÑAPP