Former prime minister, MNA Raja Pervez Ashraf speaking on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day at the National Press Club on May 3, 2024. — APP
ISLAMABAD: The speakers at the seminar at a seminar on Press Freedom Day announced that Pakistan’s journalists will oppose the proposed strict laws to regulate social media at every forum.
“Pakistan’s journalist community will oppose the proposed strict laws regarding social media at every forum as in Pakistan, the national media has surrendered and is now preparing to target social media in the name of fake news to stop the information. The journalist community of Pakistan will oppose the proposed strict laws on social media in every forum,” the speakers announced at the seminar “Freedom of Expression and Challenges” organized by the Rawalpindi Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) and the National Press Club at the National Press Club.
They said that if social media needs to be reformed, defamation laws should be improved like in the rest of the world. The speakers said that restrictions on freedom of expression are unacceptable. The media only shows what happens in the country. “Journalists have rendered immense sacrifices for the freedom of expression. Instead of strangling journalism, the government should focus on reforming the situation,” they said.
Speaking on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, former prime minister, MNA Raja Pervez Ashraf said that the government firmly believed in freedom of expression and never imposed curbs on media. He said, “I am opposed to unnecessary restrictions on journalists and their rights of expression and no society can run without journalism, adding that Parliament respected and has always resolved the issues of the journalist community in Pakistan. He said that the media fraternity should play a proactive role in the sustainable development and prosperity of the country and masses. “We have to adopt a positive approach instead of politics of anarchy. Politicians, lawyers, journalists, judiciary, and everyone must play their part in economic stability,” he added. Ashraf said it was the foremost responsibility of all of us to protect the freedom of expression and opinion while considering it a blessing. “Journalists have made immense sacrifices for freedom of expression. ” The former prime minister Pervez Ashraf said that the ban on media is not only a ban on the rights of journalists but also on the right of the public to know. “We have fought a long struggle together with journalists and we will continue to support them,” he said. Ashraf said that he is against unnecessary restrictions on journalists, no society can run without free media.“ “This freedom is a great blessing and it is the responsibility of all of us to protect this freedom,” he said
Senator Fauzia Arshad, the leader of the Sunni Unity Council, said that freedom of expression is the right of everyone and no restriction on it is acceptable. “We have made every possible effort to protect the journalists. The journalist community should tell us about their problems and we will try our best to solve their problems,” she said.
Former Secretary of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists Nasir Zaidi said that freedom of press and freedom of expression has been a dream in every era. “Journalism has been suppressed and strangled but we achieved freedom of media through sacrifices,” he said. He said the PFUJ will fight against the ban imposed by the government. “We will not accept any restrictions on media freedom by the government. We will continue to resist and will never compromise,” he said.
Senior journalist and Resident Editor of The News Aamir Ghauri said that the amendment of Article 19 of the Constitution is the need of the hour as it restricts expression instead of freedom of expression. President Rawalpindi Islamabad Union of Journalists Tariq Ali Work said that freedom of expression is the fundamental right of journalists which the government has taken away from journalists. The former secretary of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists Ms. Fauzia Shahid said that we should understand the challenges faced by journalists. “Freedom is not a license to abuse others and we need to choose better words to criticise someone,” she said.
Senior journalist Hafiz Tahir Khalil said that even the Founder of Pakistan, Qauid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was not spared. His speeches were censored by the Radio Pakistan. Chaudhry Shafiq, Executive Director, of the Parliamentary Commission for Human Rights, said that Parliament should take steps to ensure freedom of expression.
Secretary National Press Club Ms Nayer Ali said that the rules of the Journalist Protection Bill should be formalised immediately as four journalists have died within a year. “It is the responsibility of the government to ensure the safety of the lives of journalists. Every passing day is increasing the difficulties of journalists,” she said. General Secretary of People’s Party Punjab, Hasan Murtaza said that journalists have made immense sacrifices for the restoration of democracy. “Whenever the TV channels and newspapers were banned, we supported journalists and have always stood by them,” he said.
Source link: https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1185204-press-freedom-day-journalists-to-oppose-attempts-to-regulate-social-media-speakers