=> SAFMA conference demands repeal of PEMRA, PNNABRO
SAFMA conference demands repeal of PEMRA, PNNABRO ordinances
ISLAMABAD: American Ambassador Anne Patterson Friday said that her country has urged the Pakistani government to lift curbs on media, as free Press is an important part of democratic dispensation.
“Free Press is, no doubt, a hallÂmark of the democratic process, but journalists too do have the responsibility to exercise freedom with high standard of professionalism,” she said, while addressing a conference titled ‘Media Freedom, Security and Laws’ organised here by the South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) here Friday.
A large number of distinguished journalists, from across the country representing various media bodies including PFUJ, APNS, CPNE, PBA, SAFMA, SAMC, MCP and various Press Clubs and journalists unions participated in the conference.
In the concluding session of the conference, the participants unanimously passed a declaration which showed concern over the imposition of emergency, suspension of the Constitution and fundamental human rights, erosion of independence of judiciary and rule of law.
The charter welcomed the resolve, unity and the struggle of the media community, backed by international media community, civil society and all democratic forces, united against the suppression of freedom of speech and particularly two draconian ordinances (PEMRA & PNNABRO).
The declaration fulminated against the methods of intimidation and economic strangulation used by the government to coerce certain media units to surrender their freedom by signing code of conduct. It also strongly condemned the hegemony of state over civil society organisations by mending the Legal Practitioners & Bar Councils Act through an ordinance.
The charter of media freedom reiterates journalists’ ‘solemn commitment’ to the supremacy of 1973 Constitution, an independent judiciary, a sovereign parliament, an undiluted democracy, a participatory freedom, fundamental human rights, freedom of expression, right to know, free media, pluralism and tolerance.
The participants of the conference demanded the lifting of emergency, withdrawal of PEMRA & PNNABRO amended ordinances, restoration of judiciary and freedom of expression. The charter also demanded the government that all restrictions on issuing of licenses to private televisions and radios must be lifted, public sector media corporations as PTV, APP, PBC be made independent, all official advertisements shall be distributed on merit.
Earlier speaking at different sessions of the conference, the noted media persons flayed the harassing tactics of government to muzzle free media, particularly after the proclamation of emergency. Dr. Jabbar Khattak, Chief Editor Daily Awami Awaz, Karachi pointing out the flaws of infamous law and said that it was meant to target media persons.
Renowned human rights activist, Hina Jillani, said that the freedom of expression and right to know was the cardinal foundation for other human rights. “Media organisation should adopt their own devised regulatory system and it must not be imposed from outside”, she added.
I A Rehman noted that the right of access to information was the key right. He stated that public bodies should adopt the policy of disseminating maximum information to masses to promote the culture of open governance. He also suggested the keen reviewing of Official Secret Act and other such laws in consultation with media bodies.
Senior journalist Afzal Khan addressing the gathering said, “When a journalist speaks against dictatorship, he does not indulge into politics. In fact he is talking of press freedom as the history of Pakistan is witness that press always remained under fire during dictatorial rules”. Criticising the role of state-run media, he observed that every regime in Pakistan employed it to propagate its own agenda.
Chief Editor, Daily Pakistan, Lahore, Mujeebur Rehman Shami, urged the government to review existing laws pertaining to media in consultation with all stakeholders. “Freedom of media is not only the right of media persons but also the fundamental right of all the people as they want to know the facts”.
Renowned columnist Ghazi Salahuddin pointed out that the struggle for the media freedom had overcome professional issues. He urged reporters to do skilled journalism.
Nusrat Javed, Kashif Abbasi, Talat Hussain and Asma Sherazi, the noted anchorpersons of the banned private TV talk-shows, in their speeches vowed not to bow to the coercive tactics of the ‘military regime’. “We are not ready to obey the code of conduct, imposed upon us on the power of guns”, noted Nusrat Javed, President SAFMA, Pakistan.
Imtiaz Alam paid tributes to daring journalists who were wielding the flag of freedom.
Source: The Nation
Date:12/1/2007
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