Joint efforts for protection of basic human rights stressed

LAHORE : Speakers at a conference have stressed that collective efforts are needed in the fight for the basic human rights: a struggle which is imperative for the development of a real and transparent democratic setup.

To mark the international day for Human Rights, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) organised a conference ‘no right without the right to freedom of expression’, at the Lahore Press Club followed by a demonstration outside the club.  

The speakers at the conference included Asma Jahangir, Dr Mehdi Hassan, Ahmed Rashid, Saroop Ijaz and IA Rehman, Saroop Ijaz focused on the existing legal system, which despite constitutionally providing for freedom of expression, dilutes it extraordinarily, through eight contra-provisions. He also addressed other legal anomalies and judicial ambiguity on contempt of court that serves to negate the right to freedom of expression.

The elimination of traditional communication channels between the media and state were pointed out by Ahmed Rashid. Social media tools such as Twitter, constrained to 140 characters, which are increasingly relied on the government to communicate news; allow for no depth, nuance or questioning of news. The lack of transparency of these mediums critically affects a citizen’s right to information. He recalled the promise the prime minister had made to the committee for freedom of journalists to have all cases of violence against journalists investigated. No action was taken. Instead conditions for media had worsened. The PM was not holding any press conference. 

IA Rehman discussed the prevailing stifling environment which allows for no dissent or critical thought publicly. In fact the state has been so successful in barring information, that most media and individuals increasingly revert to self-censorship even in private.  The startling development is even more surprising since taking place under a democratic setup.  

Media and its evolution were discussed by Dr Mehdi Hassan. The lack of editorial control by the media as to what to disseminate and increasing role of state in gate keeping of news has left little depth in terms of coverage. Despite enormous proliferation in media and its coverage the superficiality of content is striking. 

Asma Jahangir concluded the conference by reiterating the role of each and every citizen and civil society in the fight for these basic rights: a struggle which is imperative for the development of a real and transparent democratic setup. She asked journalists to revive their tradition of resistance and called upon the HRCP to monitor all cases of attacks in media throughout the year and support the working journalists in their struggles. 

In a paper distributed among the media representatives, the HRCP said: the prevailing state of freedom of expression in Pakistan should be of great concern to citizens, not just on Human Rights Day but all around the year, because suppression of the freedom of expression compromises enjoyment of all human rights for everyone, not merely for the media or for the larger civil society. Intimidation and curbs on the media and civil society organisations in Pakistan deprived a democratic society of the benefits that their actions can have in the form of ensuring transparency, accountability and fighting corruption. 

The widespread impunity for perpetrators of violence against journalists, media organisations and human rights defenders remains as well entrenched as ever. Violence against journalists and rights defenders not being probed, at least not in a meaningful manner, is intended to scare people into silence and to exercise self-censorship.