SAFMA declaration seeks free media and information
ISLAMABAD: Media organisations, politicians, lawyers and journalists on Tuesday demanded complete freedom of expression, right to know and freedom of media as recognised in the Constitution of Pakistan and UN laws.
Participating in a consultation on ‘Media Freedom, Media Laws’ jointly organised by the Media Commission, Pakistan, and South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) here, the rejected the use of violence by state and non-state elements to suppress freedom of expression and supported the ‘Declaration on Media Freedom, Media Laws’ adopted at the consultation. The Declaration stated that all legal, financial and restrictive means by both state and non-state elements must be removed to let the media work independently. It demanded the PEMRA Ordinance of 2002 be amended by limiting it to contractual matters involving broadcasters and the state, such as fees and charges for service. It said a broadcaster committing an offence should be judged according to ordinary laws and the executive should have no right to suspend a broadcast. The declaration also asked for an increase in access to government records.
The declaration said the people’s right of unfettered access to information would not be tolerated by the media, civil society organisations, members of the bar and political parties.
It said that if legislation regarding any fundamental right, including freedom of expression, is needed, it should be adopted with a bipartisan consensus of both houses of parliament in consultation with representatives of media and civil society.
The declaration called upon the people, civil society organisations, bar associations, political parties and elected representatives to support the media in their pursuit for independence. It also appealed to parliamentarians to scrutinise all legal and administrative restrictions on media freedom and amend all existing laws that in any way hindered press freedom.
Speaking on media freedom, Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan said the media should realise its true potential and resist any pressure against it by fighting for its rights.
Supporting the declaration, Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf chief Imran Khan said the media had been the harbinger of real change in Pakistan.
Daily Times Editor-in-Chief Najam Sethi said the intelligentsia should play its role to highlight the importance of press freedom. He criticised the powers given to PEMRA. He said it was heartening to note that for the first time the international community had fully supported media freedom in Pakistan.
Sethi said recent events had changed the popular perception of media and journalists, allowing people to become important stakeholders in free media. He urged journalists to unite against restrictions on media. The declaration was supported by lawyers, who pledged to get it endorsed from all bar councils of the country. Hafiz Hussain Ahmad of the MMA said he would take the declaration to the opposition’s all-parties conference.
Source: Daily Times
Date:6/27/2007
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