Reading Unesco’s mission of “Empowering people through the free flow of ideas by word and image, and by access to information and knowledge” strongly supports the views of the South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) that has recently organized a SAFMA National Conference in Karachi.
Calling it “the Karachi Declaration”, they stressed the need for lifting all restrictions on access to and free flow of inforamtion and free movement of journalists and media products across the South Asian region.
The conference fully endorsed SAFMA’s Protocols on “access to and free flow of and free movement of media persons across the South Asian region” and “proposed freedom of information law.”
“There is an urgent need to change the PEMRA (Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority) Ordinance on line as proposed by the SAFMA National Conference-II and create an autonomous regulatory authority to monitor and scrutinize the electronic media productions without in any way allowing the emergence of monopolies, government control and to protect citizens’ rights and public interests.”
In this regard, SAFMA Pakistan welcomed the establishment of South-Asia Press Commissions in the member countries of SAARC to monitor violations of media freedoms, attacks on the journalists and to audit both print and electronic media. SAFMA Pakistan, in consultation with all media bodies, will form a South Asian Press Commission in Pakistan.
The electronic media in both public and private sectors must be treated on an equal basis and on similar yardsticks while making media under government control as true representatives of public interest with public service as their prime objective, rather than a propaganda tool of the government in power or any partisan interest.
All obstructions and restrictions in the way of the growth of a free electronic media my be immediately lifted in the interest of freedom of expression and radio and community television networks may be encouraged for free flow of information, education and entertainment of the people and to ensure transparency, accountability, empowerment of the people and good governance.
For specialized training and education of media persons and fresh graduates, both media industry and the government must create state of the art media training centres and mass communication institutions capable of producing human resource that is equal to the task.
In this regard, the conference welcomed SAFMA’s plan to establish a South Asian Media University (SAMU) at Lahore that is to have a South Asian faculty and students.
There is a need for creation of state of the art media training centres and mass communication institutions for the specialized training and education of media persons, said the conference.
The declaration said media persons from both print and electronic media in Pakistan, having discussed issues pertaining to the electronic media, in particular, and problems related to a free press, in general, on June 18 at Karachi have evolved an understanding on the issues that are of great concern to media persons and the people of Pakistan and the future of democracy in our country.
Recalling the principles inspiring SAFMA’s various declarations and SAFMA Pakistan’s National Conference-I and II resolutions and other statements reiterating our commitment to a free and vibrant media in Pakistan, fundamental rights and undiluted democracy, on the one hand, and peace, friendship and cooperation in the region, on the other hand it was stressed that during news gathering, such as in breaking news of a terrorist incident or some other extraordinary development that has the potential of horrible consequences, care must be taken to promptly get the reaction of the other side without jumping on the conclusion or being judgmental. Similarly, in talk shows, special care must be taken in providing appropriate representation to the diverse views and anyone being discussed should be heard and given proper space and representation.
The participants demanded an end to the intimidation of journalists and all kinds of pressures on media and the urgent need to amend all media laws as proposed by SAFMA National Conference-II.
Published Date: June 20, 2006