Democracy incomplete without independent media

LAHORE: Journalists in Pakistan have always paid the price with their lives for speaking the truth, and democracy is incomplete in the absence of an independent media.

These views were expressed by speakers at a seminar titled “Journalism, law and our responsibilities”, held here under the auspices of the Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA).

Senior anchorperson Hamid Mir, columnist Anjum Rasheed, senior lawyer SM Zafar, Lahore Press Club President Arshad Ansari, renowned columnist Orya Maqbool Jan, Press Council of Pakistan former president Raja Shafqat Abbasi and LHCBA President Shafqat Mehmood Chauhan addressed the audience and shared their views regarding need for liaison between law, legislation, independent media and responsibilities of journalists and masses.


Speakers said we could not think about a democratic system without an independent media. They said journalists have always been punished in the country for speaking the truth. Examples like an attack on the biggest media group of the country, non-compliance of orders of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) as well as the government and the courts prove that the media is not fully independent as it enjoys only partial freedom.

They said that independence of media is a prerequisite for any revolution and only free journalism could form a system of checks and balances. They said the whole truth is actual journalism while telling half truths is very dangerous not only for society but for journalism itself also. Journalists are not made to level allegations but to research and unfold real faces, they added.

They said the worst shape of democracy is much better than dictatorship and only free and fair journalism could help flourish democracy and condemn dictatorship.

Restoration of judiciary and reinstatement of democracy in the country were two biggest movements in the history of Pakistan, which were appreciated all over the world. In both movements, lawyers and journalists struggled shoulder to shoulder, they added. Furthermore, masses should be given full right to access to information, as only flow of information could pave the way for free thinking.

They also criticised those journalists who are exploiting the sacred profession of journalism by promoting their biased opinions for personal gains.

A major part of the country is being run without the state writ and if we want to safeguard lives of people of all sections of society, we would have to stand for an independent media, they added. The speakers said that unfortunately dictators ruled the country for long times and they always tried to crush an independent media under their boots, but journalist gave their lives for a free media. They said Pakistan is not a safe country for journalists as 132 journalists have been murdered in the last 12 years and their murderers are still at large.

They said freedom of speech, independence of media and the respect of law are in evolutionary stage in Pakistan and media could play a very vital role in expediting this process.

Media is the fourth pillar of the state with universal independence as boundaries of responsible journalism are not mentioned in constitution, they added.

They concluded that all stakeholders should condemn yellow journalism and struggle for free and fair media, which can help in strengthening the roots of democracy.

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