Daily Times

LAHORE: World Press Freedom Day was observed in the metropolis on Tuesday with demands of providing protection to working journalists as well as mandatory laws for their safety.

In this connection, a seminar was jointly arranged by the Lahore Press Club (LPC), Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and Punjab Union of Journalists (PUJ) at a local hotel.

The participants also paid tribute to the late journalists who lost their lives while serving for their profession. The World Press Freedom Day’s theme for 2016 was titled, ‘Access to Information and Fundamental Freedoms – This Is Your Right!’ by the United Nations (UN).

A charter of demand was also presented towards the end of the event, which compressed on five points that were raised during discussions. The purpose of the seminar was to secure the basic rights of journalists, their protection and issues pertaining to their salaries.

In the seminar, Opposition Leader in Punjab Assembly Mian Mehmoodur Rashid, senior journalist and columnist Munnu Bhai, PFUJ President Rana Azeem, PUJ President Shahzad Hussain Butt, LPC President Shahbaz Mian, senior journalists Naeem Gilani, Arif Nizami and Sajjad Mir, EMRA President Abid Khan, columnists, students from different educational institutions and large number of journalists were present. Information Minister Pervaiz Rasheed was expected to participate as chief guest. However, he did not show up even after commitment with the organisers of the seminar.

On the occasion, speakers said that the government is not aware of the rights of journalists and media workers, adding that journalists’ role in establishing democracy in the country could not be undermined. The government should mull for media workers and introduce media friendly policy for them, they added. They said that press freedom day reminds them of their resolve towards united struggle for betterment of the country instead of dividing themselves into different groups and propagating against it.

Opposition Leader Medmoodur Rasheed said the owners of media houses are running their groups to fill their lockers with money and want to become billionaires, however, neglecting the rights of their workers. He said that the PML-N government’s policy is not friendly for the employees of media houses, as it has control over some media owners who give seduction of ads. He said that the government has failed to deliver while the country could only progress under the shade of real democratic system instead of the present ‘imperial democracy system’. He revealed that the PML-N government was involved in corruption of Rs 212 billion in the name of anti-dengue campaign.

Addressing with the participants, Munnu Bhai said female journalists should join this field, as it would help them raise their issues and voices as well. He said that workers’ protection was the responsibility of the government while fair reporting was the responsibility of the journalists. He said that several of his colleagues have been murdered on duty but their killers have not been arrested despite filing of cases.

Earlier, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon had said in a statement, “On this World Press Freedom Day, I urge all governments, politicians, businesses and citizens to commit to nurturing and protecting an independent and free media. Without this fundamental right, people are less free and less empowered. With it, we can work together for a world of dignity and opportunity for all.”