Worldwide Condemnation of Blocking Transmission
Association of Pakistani Lawyers a team of Pakistani origin lawyers, Solicitors, Barristers, Judges in UK jointly condemn blocking the transmission of Private Channels in particular GEO, ARY Digital and some current affairs of AAJ TV in the wake of recent imposition of emergency in Pakistan on 3rd November 2007 and we jointly declare it an attack on the institution of media which is undoubtedly 4th pillar of state of Pakistan. Media freedom is enshrined in the constitution of Pakistan. Article 19 of the Constitution of Pakistan 1973 protects such rights. It says as following,
| “19. | Freedom of speech, etc. Every citizen shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression, and there shall be freedom of the press, subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed by law in the interest of the glory of Islam or the integrity, security or defence of Pakistan or any part thereof, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality, or in relation to contempt of court,[15][commission of] or incitement to an offence.” |
Freedom of all citizens enshrined in the Constitution must be restored and right to have update information and right to know is also a basic right of citizens especially when the world is knit into a global village and there are over 8 million Pakistanis living abroad as winning hearts and minds must be a motto of any state functionaries and Govt must not divert people to apathy and hopelessness. Ensure free press and electronic media freedom as in Pakistan education rate is so low that only this sort of media revolution can assist to form public opinion to vote in free polls to rid the politics of the sleazy and feudal mind set, freedom of movement as well as intellectual stimulation must be preserved and ensured which is a pre requisite to national development.
APL has the following request to make to the Western World: APL requests the United Nations, European Union, United States, Commonwealth, United Kingdom, Amnesty, Human Rights Watch, and all other international and national governmental and non governmental organizations to take notice of detained Supreme Court judges, lawyers, human rights activists and the gagging orders against electronic media and impress upon General Musharraf to lift all sanctions on the operation of constitution and restore civil rights, media freedom and liberty plus normalcy in the country, release all detained before, on or after 3rd November and allow the Supreme Court to function in accordance with the law and constitution. If they fail to make it clear strongly, we may miss the opportunity to have rule of law, justice and democracy in Pakistan for a long period to come therefore restoring the operation of constitution and law is prima facie matter of great importance for the people of Pakistan and if Western World is serious about democracy in that part of the world than befitting action is needed not a lip service and cosmetic statements. Lifting emergency is of utmost importance to allow people to make a fair choice in coming days.
We all demand that the transmission is restored at once and allow the media to broadcast its transmission to common masses in particular on the issue of current affairs in order to update common man the state of play and opposite view freely because of sensitivity of common man attached to it of course with responsibility and dedication. Government may impose lawful restrictions on dissemination of information as well as may set up a body to adjudicate any complaints against any network however shutting down or influencing other states to shut down any net work will be a grave mistake in the 21st century. We all hope that media contribution is fruitful to bring Pakistan out of this constitutional quagmire, and common man’s voice goes with the networks who are under fire and we hope it reaches to those rulers who make decision(s) to listen to it and act accordingly.
Signed
Mohd. Rafiq
Chair Association of Pakistani Lawyers (UK)
Amjad Malik, MA, LLM
Solicitor-Advocate of the Supreme Court of England
Vice Chair Association of Pakistani Lawyers (UK)
Ilyas Gondal
Permanent SecretaryAssociation of Pakistani Lawyers (UK)
Office Address
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16 November 2007
- Posted by valiantpk on 19/11/2007.
- valiantpk's site
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