Steps sought to ensure freedom of expression
RAWALPINDI: Speakers at a workshop here on Tuesday called for measures to ensure freedom of expression and an end to violence against mediapersons.
Violence against mediapersons curbs freedom of expression in a democratic society, they said at the concluding session of an eight-week workshop on “Violence against journalists” organized by the Department of Communication Sciences, Fatima Jinnah Women University, said a press release.
The workshop was based on exhaustive discussions and eight intensive sessions.
The workshop was aimed at highlighting unpunished crimes against journalists.
According to the International Press Institute’s annual World Press Freedom Review, Pakistan was the second deadliest place for journalists in 2008.
The purpose of the workshop was to raise awareness among the future media persons of this issue, to investigate different techniques and practices available to tackle the situation and also to identify a set of recommendations regarding the investigation and prosecution of violence against journalists in order to reduce the growing level of this trend.
Working journalists Rubab Ayesha, Arjumand Shaheen, Huma Khawar, Kaniz Fatima, Kanwal Nasir, Seema Siddiqui and Mazhar Abbas were among the speakers.
Mazhar Abbas said that serious efforts should be made to reduce the crimes against journalists because they are directly damaging key elements of democracy like freedom of expression and rule of law.
He urged that preventive measures at government level should be taken to avoid violence that journalists have to face in the line of their professional duties.
He also applauded the university efforts for conducting the workshop and called it a fruitful and learned experience.
Source: Dawn
Date:6/17/2009
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