Addressing a media training workshop titled “Human Rights Reporting”, organised by Pak Institute for Peace Studies in collaboration with Canadian High Commission in Islamabad, seasoned journalists Thursday said, “The ruling elite have adopted a discriminatory attitude towards the implementation of several human rights present in the constitution which has limited the role of media in highlighting and promoting humans rights in the country.”
Muhammad Ziauddin, Saleem Shahid, Zafarullah Khan, Aoun Shai and Amir Rana were among the trainers who discussed the multifaceted human rights issues in Pakistan.
Ziauddin said that despite the media revolution in Pakistan, journalists lack the ability to carry out adequate reporting of human rights violations in Pakistan.
Centre for Civic Education Director Zafarullah Khan said human rights were not included in the 1962 Constitution, and most of the amendments made after the 18th Amendment. He further stated that most of the fundamental rights in the constitution of Pakistan promised to the people of Pakistan, are usually subjected to the availability of the resources.
“European Union has linked General Sales Tax (GST) Plus with provision of human rights in Pakistan and if Pakistan is unable to fulfil this obligation, next year review of GST plus by EU may result in the withdrawal of the facility,” he said, adding that human rights are also suffering from international politics.
Senior Journalist Saleem Shahid from Quetta said that media coverage of human rights issues was already facing numerous challenges, and now extremism in the society has further complicated the task. |Extremists in Pakistan are getting more media coverage than incidents of human rights violations; the state is focusing more on non-state actors than our fundamental rights.”
Pak Institute for Peace Studies Director Muhammad Amir Rana said that human rights violations need extensive coverage. “It is vital for journalists to be completely aware of law and culture of the environment while giving coverage to the human rights issues.”
Senior reporter Aoun Shai said adequate training is not being given to the journalists and thus people in print and electronic media are not aware of the sensitivity of the human rights issues.
