=> LAHORE – The civil society, students, journalists
LAHORE – The civil society, students, journalists and lawyers are playing role for ensuring freedom of expression in the country. The political parties should also play their due role and become stakeholders in the struggle rather than just giving token support.
President Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors and Editor The Nation Arif Nizami stated this while addressing a seminar on ‘PEMRA (amended) Ordinance 2007’ held under the aegis of Press Institute of Pakistan on Saturday.
Renowned journalist and activist Hussain Naqi was the chief guest at the seminar presided over by Nizami. The speakers included Rizwanur Rehman Razi, Salman Ghani and Abdullah Tariq Sohail. Director PIP Absar Abdul Ali conducted the seminar.
“The political parties role in the whole scenario has been minimal and weak. This is the reason that the crisis has deepened. The PPP and PML-N are two major parties and they could not decide whether to participate in the election or not. The charter of democracy is good but the unity could not be evolved,” Nizami was of the view.
He said it was not just the case with political parties but in the past media also showed disunity.
About the PEMRA (amended) Ordinance and other laws, he said it was no short term measure. “It is said that the crisis situation emerged when Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry refused to resign. But the question arises why he was asked to resign. The battle is between the establishment and all other forces.
The former wants to maintain its supremacy in the country by controlling all the institutions. They thought since the leaders Benazir and Nawaz were out of the country it was the media that could create problems with what they thought the freedom they had given to it. The result was that media and judiciary were targeted,” he explained.
Nizami said the mullah military alliance was well known and President Musharraf had made a fool of the West by terming the religious element as the threat. “The teachers, students, lawyers and all the progressive people have come out on the roads. The civil society has come out to protest against the curbs on media,” he said.
He was of the view that a rubber-stamp democracy was in the making and it should be resisted. “What kind of elections would these be when there would not no rule of law and no freedom of expression. A party plans to get two thirds majority and then uphold the curbs and black laws. The caretakers are mere undertakers as the decisions are being made elsewhere and they no role themselves,” Nizami said.
He said there was clear and present danger for working journalists and owners of media organizations. “It is high time we should all unite to ensure freedom of expression in the country,” Nizami maintained.
He said rulers considered media, lawyers and judiciary as the mother of all evils. He said government had put curbs on Geo TV against which they were resisting and that was commendable. Nawa-i-Waqt had to face sanctions due to publishing advertisements regarding arrival of Shahbaz Sharif and Asif Zardari, he maintained.
He said even liberal community had developed anti-Musharraf sentiments and students, teachers, lawyers and journalists had come out on streets against government. “Its an uphill task and not an easy combat.
Freedom of expression, gatherings and processions have been banned by government. We cannot take part in Press Council with government unless curbs on media are lifted, ads are restored and no press advice is issued,” he said.
He said judges of the superior judiciary were not allowed to move freely and they were being detained and the journalists were not a sacred cow that government would spare them.
Naqi also stressed on joint struggle by journalists and civil society. “The resistance should continue. The students have actively joined the movement and the struggle is gaining strength. I remember the Pakistan Movement when youth actively participated in the freedom struggle. That same spirit is also seen today,” he said.
Naqi dilated on the various laws that have been introduced by the government for putting pressure on media. “It was East India Company that first put curbs on freedom of expression in 1799.
Since then the state has been suppressive with regard to freedom of expression. It is unfortunate that every ruler thinks that what he does is best for Pakistan. He forgets to take into account the wishes of the people,” he added.
“They spend millions of rupees to control media. It is high time to jointly resist government pressure,” he maintained.
Naqi said there were about a dozen laws that put curbs on the freedom of expression and apply on media.
Sohail said the punishments suggested in the law are now allowed under the Constitution. “It is being said that media is not showing responsible attitude but it is government that is showing irresponsible attitude.
TV channels were shut down as the government said they were showing dead bodies. Why were the FM radio channels closed? It was because they were airing BBC bulletins that the government could not control,” he said.
Ghani was of the view that it was 21st century and the government could not get away with illegal steps. “Our civil society has to come to life and is resisting the curbs put on media by government. If true representative of people come in power the situation would change,” he said.
Source: The Nation
Date:12/9/2007
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