Journalists guard ideological frontiers | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

Journalists guard ideological frontiers

SAHIWAL- Sahiwal journalists spent the World Press Freedom Da,y on May 3rd protesting the arrest of fellow journalist, Khalid Rashid. by the district administration. Newsmen wore black arms band and chained their hands at a demonstration in front of the Sahiwal Press Club. They condemned the Sahiwal administration on the arrest of three journalists on alleged “flimsy” pretexts during the past year, and demanded withdrawal of the fake cases.

Speaking on the occasion, members of the Press including Altaf-ur-Rehman, Hafiz Zulfiqar, Liaquat Ansari, Raghib Ali Syed, Imran Qayyum Niazi, Pervez Ahmed Kharl and Muhammad Ali Anwar stressed the importance of a free Press in a civilised and enlightened society. They lamented that rulers and governments always want journalists to work for their image building, even through mis-representing and mis-reporting facts, and alleged that “old” methods were adopted against newsmen who refused to bow or cringe.

Speakers observed that journalists in Pakistan safe-guarded the ideological frontiers of the country while the army protected its territorial frontiers. While the army is often lauded and rewarded for its services, journalists remain unsung and often economically handicapped, they added. Apart from this, honest reporting sometimes opens them and their families to great personal risk from vested interests, newsmen asserted. They urged the government to ensure steps to safeguard the interests of journalists, which would ensure a stronger Pakistan through strengthening its values and ideological frontiers.

Source: The Nation
Date:5/6/2000