World Press Freedom Day today
ISLAMABAD- The World Press Freedom Day will be commemorated on May 3 as a reminder to the government and the citizens of the importance of freedom of the press and of how the global battle to attain it continues.
The Day is celebrated to mark the anniversary of the Declaration of Windhoek, a statement of principles drawn up by journalists in 1991 calling for a free, independent and pluralistic media throughout the world.
The chequered history of how the press has been treated in Pakistan continues an extended run mirrored by the government’s shifting priorities.
According to the “Pakistan State of Media and Press Freedom Report 2001-2002,” to be formally launched here today, one reason why the press has had rough patches this past year in its tense relations with the military government is, perhaps, because the press is the only party that continues to impart meaning to democracy and pluralism.
The growing impatience of the government with the press, the report says, is reflected from a few of the following statements by the government functionaries and representatives of the press: “They are spreading negative thinking, spreading lies.” (President Gen Pervez Musharraf on April 15, 2002 during his speech at a rally in Abbottabad, accusing journalists of playing down the size of the rallies he had been addressing across the country to drum up support for referendum.
“The people have voiced their support for President Musharraf but journalists have been misreporting this. Shame on them. They should not play with the people’s emotions. If they do, they will court danger.” (Punjab Governor Lt-Gen (retd) Khalid Maqbool at a referendum rally in Faisalabad on April 14, 2002.)
“The meeting expressed concern over threats to press freedom, directives and orders received from the government with regard to the publication of news and photographs, specially press advice issued by the government.” (Statement issued by the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) after its meeting at Bhurban on May 20, 2001.
“The Information Ministry has issued no press advice. No discriminatory treatment was ever meted out by the Ministry against any newspaper or its management, irrespective of the publication of favourable or hostile news and views with regard to the government’s performance.”(A spokesman for the ministry in a statement on May 21, 2001.)
“Several newspapers jointly complained that some bureaucrats are creating hindrances in the working of editors. It was said that newspapers have been asked to play down the news about the water crisis.” (Statement issued by CPNE after its meeting at Bhurban on May 20, 2001).
“The Chief Executive says the press is free while on the other side, telephone calls are being received from the high-ups about the coverage of news. It is astonishing that advice is given for putting the headlines of “their” choice on official news. There is also government advice to some newspapers to take down editorials in accordance with its own desire.” (Statement issued by CPNE after it’s meeting at Bhurban on May 20, 2001).
“Occasional difference of opinion notwithstanding, the press today has acted with a sense of responsibility and the criticism, if any, has been taken by the government in a spirit of understanding and tolerance.” (Spokesman for the Information Ministry in a statement on May 21, 2001.)
“Foreign media is spreading despondency. For example, a poor man had died by snakebite in June last year [2000] near Bahawalpur but it was projected through a photograph by a foreign news agency that he died of drought. When facts were provided to the agency, the foreign agency apologized to us. The country’s electronic media projected both the contradiction and apology properly, but the print media published it on inner pages.” (Government spokesman Maj-Gen Rashid Qureshi speaking at a seminar in Rawalpindi on June 14, 2001).
Source: Dawn
Date:5/3/2002
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