JAC condemns attack on Hamid Mir
KARACHI: Mehnaz Rehman, resident director of Aurat Foundation and leader of the Joint Action Committee (a conglomerate of several civil rights organisations), has said there should be a code of ethics and the media itself should evolve the code.
She made the observation while responding to a question at a news conference at the Karachi Press Club on Thursday evening.
Asked if it was not true that economic rights were the fundamental human rights and the concept of liberty as enunciated by great revolutionary intellectual Christopher Caudwell held true, Rehman replied in the affirmative and said right to life was the core human right and economic rights were fundamental human rights. “The state is responsible for ensuring security to every citizen,” she observed.
Rehman said: “Pakistan is the most dangerous country for women and journalists.”Abdul Hai of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said: “We are getting dead bodies every day.”Joint Director Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research Zulfiqar Shah said: “Pakistan is a law and order country.”
Earlier, Rehman said the Joint Action committee (JAC) condemned the attack on senior journalist Hamid Mir and committed itself to standing by the family of Mir in the hour of pain and sorrow.
She was flanked by Zahid Farooq, Farhat Parveen, Zulfikar Shah and Abdul Hai.“JAC believes that the attack on Mir is an attack on the freedom of expression. We call for the total enforcement of human rights, fundamentally the rights to protection of life and freedom of expression. Even the constitution of Pakistan guarantees these rights.
“We believe it is the responsibility of the state and the government of Pakistan to ensure protection of life and dignity of all citizens.” Rehman further said: “The Joint Action Committee is a great supporter of the responsible, unbiased and independent character journalism and journalists can play in a society. We believe that the media should play a fair and fearless role in bringing the truth to fore.
“The debate on the role of intelligence agencies in our country on the national media is a healthy sign that our journalists are not afraid of tackling any issue of national and human interest. A serious and objective debate on such issues of national importance strengthens the independence of our society and the country as a whole.”
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