PAKISTAN: Voice of the media not getting across say activists

[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

ISLAMABAD, 3 May 2005 (IRIN) - Media rights activists marking this year's World Press Freedom Day, have said that the media in Pakistan could be more of a vehicle for social change.

"Media, electronic and press, have been highlighting lots of social and development issues. But, in most cases the information is falling on deaf ears, creating an impression of the media as a 'powerless' player," Owais Aslam Ali, secretary general of the Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) told IRIN from the southern port city of Karachi.

"What is important is not just to bring these issues into the public domain but that the judiciary, executive and legislature should take up those cases and solve them," Ali said.

As an independent media research, documentation and training centre, the PPF, established in 1967, has been pressing for proper implementation of a freedom of information law, promulgated in 2002.

"Under the law, anybody from the public is allowed to request information concerning any aspect of the government's work. But people sitting in public offices have not been trained how to process the information requests," Ali said.

The question of security for journalists in Pakistan was also highlighted on World Press Freedom Day. At least 120 journalists have been attacked in the country since May 2004, according to a report released on Tuesday by the country office of Internews, an international NGO working to build capacity in the media in developing countries.

"The intimidation came from various sectors primarily the government but also private players, unhappy with media freedom. It was generally aimed at obstructing corruption and abuse of power by public servants," the report said.

Meanwhile, to mark media day, the United Nations Information centre (UNIC) in collaboration with the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) organised a panel discussion in the capital, Islamabad with university students and journalists.

The session discussed a wide range of issues including freedom of expression, the relationship between the government and media, the responsibility of the state and the abduction and harassment of journalists.

[ENDS]