President IFJ wants end to ban on TV channels
LAHORE – The ban on TV channels and the curbs put by government on freedom of expression should be immediately lifted. Democracy is must for progress and development of any country and the democracy is not possible without freedom of press.
President International Federation of Journalists Kanak Dixit and President Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists Huma Ali stated this while holding a press conference at the Lahore Press Club on Wednesday. A large number of journalists were present throughout the day at the protest camp set up at LPC. Dixit, who is from Nepal, said it was very sad that curbs had been put on media in Pakistan and the whole world was shocked at the situation. “No country can make progress curbs are put on the freedom of expression. We urge President Pervez Musharraf to lift the ban on all TV channels,” he said.
Ali said the situation in the country was alarming as all sections of the society have been affected by imposition of emergency in the country. “Everywhere in country you see increase in violence. Suicide attacks have increased. The attacks on judiciary and press are deplorable. The Constitution stands in abeyance and the rights of citizens are not being ensured.
“President Musharraf should have sacked the advisers who asked him to put curbs on media and put the Constitution in abeyance,” he was of the view.
Ali said the journalists struggle was not just for allowing the transmission of all TV channels. “The lifting of bans alone would not do. All the programmes including the talk shows that have been banned should be allowed to go on air,” he maintained.
The declaration of the IF/PFUJ conference held in Islamabad the other day was also read on the occasion. “At the very outset, we denounce the imposition of the Provisional Constitutional Order announced on 3 November, 2007, and call for a rollback of all decisions and actions associated with that order. We believe in the reinstatement of the independent judiciary as existed before that date, and believe in the return to the Constitution of 1973 as the only way forward to democracy, pluralism and people-power.
In the meantime, we condemn, as actions against the people of Pakistan, all steps against the media carried out under the PCO. We condemn the two anti-media amendments to press ordinances, as well as the so-called code of conduct that is unilaterally sought to be imposed on media organizations. We condemn the government for having prevented the coverage of the movement opposing emergency rule. We condemn the detention of journalists. We condemn the ban on satellite television channels. We condemn the pressure put on independent press groups. We condemn the amendment of the PEMRA laws, meant to hurt television broadcasters. We condemn the seizure of the equipment of FM radio stations,” the declaration read.
Later addressing a seminar also held at LPC with regard to the media situation Abid Hasan Minto said the struggle should not be just for one demand. “We should try to find a permanent solution to the problem so that in future we do not have marital laws and imposition of state of emergency,” he said.
Minto said the civil society was playing its role but the political parties that should have been leading the struggle for democracy are lagging far behind. “Lawyers, journalists and students are all playing their due role. But it is a pity that the political parties are leading from the front. They should be in the forefront. “In the past we had movements which were led by political parties. But now it is not so and it is deplorable,” Minto was of the view.
Ayaz Amir said the movement began on March 9 but unfortunately it could not get the high momentum it should have. “It is high time the movement is strengthen by involving the political parties in the struggle, he said. Khawar Naeem Hashmi said the fight for freedom of press began at the time of the independence of Pakistan and is still continuing. Different political personalities and leading people from different walks of life visited the protest camp at LPC to express their solidarity with journalists. PPP leader Sajida Mir, Jamaat Islami Ameerul Azeem, former Foreign Secretary Shamshad Ahmed Khan, former Secretary Information Dr Safdar Mahmood and PPP leader Qayyum Nizami visited the LPC.
They announced their full support for journalists in their struggle.
Source: The Nation
Date:11/22/2007
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