World Press Freedom Day: media, judiciary, democracy closely interlinked
LAHORE (May 04 2008): Secretary General, South Asia Free Media Association (Safma), Imtiaz Alam has said that media, judiciary and democracy were closely inter linked and restoration of judges would not be possible without democracy and freedom of press mean freedom of expression for all citizens.
He said this while addressing a seminar on World Press Freedom Day, organised by Safma and Lahore Press Club here on Saturday. He averred that they had given suggestions to Federal Information Minister Sherry Rehman that democratic government should execute mandate of the people and implement issues such as wage board award, strengthen democratic values, implement fundamental rights, ensure independence of judiciary, sovereignty of parliament and supremacy of the constitution.
He said that freedom of information law should provide freedom for maximum disclosure, and asked for withdrawal of Pemra Ordinance, demanded contract system prevalent in the media industry to be dispensed with and restrictions on the right to form association or trade union be removed.
President of the South Asia Media Commission I. A. Rehman and senior journalist Hussain Naqi on the occasion said that it was generally evident that people at helm of affairs tend to threaten freedom of expression and tried to put restrictions on press.
The activists said that conspiracies were always hatched to make divisions in journalist fraternity. They said that current political issues need to be resolved as per Charter of Democracy and Murree Declaration. They also wished that present coalition government should complete its tenure.
“With establishing of democratic government, dictator has been confined to his palace,” Jugnu Mohsin, senior journalist averred this while addressing the audience on the occasion. President Lahore Press Club (LPC) Mohsin Goraya and president Punjab Union of Journalists (PUJ) Shehzad Hussain Butt were also present on the occasion.
Source: Business Recorder
Date:5/4/2008
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