- World Press Freedom Day observed to raise awareness on freedom of expression
- Journalists condemn attack on INP office, say Pakistan not a safe place for journalists
The journalist community marked the World Press Freedom Day by paying tribute to the journalists who laid their lives in the line of duty. They demanded of the government and the higher judiciary to bring the murderers of 95 journalists to justice
The journalists of Islamabad and Rawalpindi marked the international day by organising a rally under the banner of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), the Rawalpindi Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) and the National Press Club (NPC).
The rally assembled outside the National Press Club and then walked to the makeshift office of the Independent News Pakistan (INP), which lost its office after some unidentified people set its office on fire.
Addressing the rally, PFUJ President Pervaiz Shaukat, RIUJ President Waqar Satti and NPC President Farooq Faisal Khan urged the government to protect journalists.
Shaukat informed the participants that around 95 Pakistani journalists had lost their lives because of their resolve to exposing truth and injustice. “In most of the incidents, the killers remained unidentified and investigation could not proceed,” he said, urging the media personnel not to remain silent in the face of atrocities committed against journalists.
Satti said the Supreme Court of Pakistan and high courts should take notice of killing of 95 journalists whose families were still without justice. “No promises made with the journalist community have ever been fulfilled,” he added.
“The recent incident of arson at the country’s largest news agency, INP, is the worst example of terrorism against journalists; however, such moves cannot silent our community,” Satti resolved.
Pointing to a dangerous trend, Khan said, “First there were individuals who were targeted but now institutions are being targeted.” Pakistan has become a dangerous country for journalist and no one was serious in providing them protection, he added.
The Journalists unanimously demanded that the government launch an impartial investigation of the firing at the INP office that has rendered150 journalists jobless.
KNOW THY RIGHT TO EXPRESS: The World Press Freedom Day was observed on Friday to raise awareness among people that freedom of expression is a fundamental human right.
The World Press Freedom Day is organised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on May 3 every year. Freedom of expression as a fundamental right is enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The UN chose to celebrate the event this year with the global theme “Safe to Speak: Securing Freedom of Expression in All Media,” which focuses on the safety of journalists‚ the issue of impunity‚ and online safety. The UN is also stressing on implementation of the “UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity”.
The World Press Freedom Day gives people a chance to pay tribute to media professionals who risked or lost their lives in the line of duty.
Various communities‚ organisations and individuals arranged activities like art exhibitions‚ dinners featuring keynote speakers‚ and awards nights to mark this special day.
The World Press Freedom Day was established by the General Assembly of the United Nations in December 1993. Each year since 1997‚ the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize is awarded to honour the work of an individual or an organisation defending or promoting freedom of expression‚ especially if it puts an individual’s life at risk. The award is named after a journalist murdered in 1986 after denouncing drug barons. Last year it was awarded posthumously to a Russian investigative reporter who was murdered in a contract-style killing in 2006.