Mujeeb Ali Samo;
It is the basic principle of journalism to dispense the fact based information to the public. Keeping this aim, the journalist takes risk and lose his life in the countenance. He does his job to know the truth and bring the truth to the people because it is a fundamental right to know the information which is to his concern. But, unfortunately, in our country the right to know is a crime and those who discover the truth and tell to the people concerned are either hamulated mentally or tortured physically to death. As the recent report compiled by Pakistan press foundation (PPF) regarding the ‘International Day to End Impunity Crimes’ against Journalist is rather portraying a dismal picture. As reported by (PPF) that incidents of threat and assault on the journalist took in this year were 27.
All these were against the freedom of media and their right to practice the task as an independent media man. It is no doubt that in the progressive and democratically independent countries the media institution is duly high in esteem and given importance as the fourth pillar of the state. It is because it plays constructive role to inform the people regarding the policies of the government and to know as the fundamental right. But, in such countries which are in the chains of the dictatorship and the monarchy are always happen to censor the media and control it’s freedom of expression. If in certain cases it is by-passed the concerned is threatened with severe consequences or assaulted to the death by unknown. The term freedom of expression has always remained the controversial in the meaning. It is always taken in broadly sense that the individual has right to say whatever he wishes or act as he desires. Term has varied meanings in states where there is a different forms of governments. It depends upon the policy of the states and their governments.
The meaning of the freedom of expression is quite opposite in the sense of democratic governments and the technocratic or the dictator or the monarchical governments. As it is exhaustive in the constitution of Pakistan in the article 19 that freedom of expression is right of every individual. It is allowed to have your right when an individual is availing the right of freedom of expression peacefully protesting for his basic rights. There is no valid meaning of the term when you are attacking the armed forces, violating the secrecy of the institutions which are in the favour of the state, tarnishing the image of the country on the social media and bouncing the hatred speech in the public for personal gain at the stake national security. This is condemned act that populist politicians are igniting the public to siege the national security institutions. This is not allowed in the freedom of expression as defined in the article 19 of the constitution of pakistan Media freedom is critically necessary in the progressive and free democratic countries. It functions as vital watchdog. In this connection, some positive steps are also taken for the protection and safety of the journalist.
The sindh government has passed a bill on the favour of journalist that is ‘Sindh protection of journalist and other media practitioner bill 2021’. That is effective but yet to be passed by the national assembly and it needs an active implementation. Media and the state are the side reflections of the same mirror. It is rather ton expatiate as media is the basic component of the state. Th State is helpless without the proper functionary of the media. Media makes the way by display the real picture of the issues. It disseminates the bad and good results of the action taken by the government. Media, institution is important for any country. It forms the gallery picture by disclosing the truth and makes the public opinion. It is taken by the people with great care because the news that is taken makes the story. Media man only covers the news with facts and that is reached out the people. It is to be notified that news itself does not come to public. It is brought because to know is the right. Those policies with are taken in the interest of the people must be shared rightly. Some duped facts which are to the coveted are cause of problem. Then after the filed of journalism is under attack. It would be wise enough to curb the evil not the media freedom. The biased and the partial reporting news is cause of blame to the whole media machinery. A few individuals who are lacking the principles of journalism and are demoralizing the sacred of profession of journalism. We as the responsible citizens of the state are to play our role to safeguard the right of people and fairly use the right of freedom of expression and give shelter to the impartial role of media.
