Altaf Hamid Rao.
MIRPUR (AJK), (Parliament Times) : Terming the recent amendment in Azad Penal Code’s (APC) Section 505 as against the fundamental rights as provided in AJK interim Constitution 1974, seasoned Kashmiri jurist – EX Secretary General the Supreme Court Bar Association of Azad Jammu Kashmir Javaid Najam us Saqib criticized Azad Govt of the State of Jammu and Kashmir for not taking all the stakeholders on board before devising the ordinance.
Our Special Jammu and Kashmir state Correspondent Altaf Hamid Rao reports from Mirpur that Saqib, candidate in scheduled elections to the presidential slot of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Supreme Court Bar Association for the year 2024-25, was addressing a lawyers gathering here on Thursday in connection with his election campaign to win the top slot of the SCBA of AJK through the scheduled elections to the Presidential office.
It may be added that elections will be held only to the president office since candidates to all rest if the offices were already announced as elected unopposed except Secretary Publications.
” Freedom of expression is primarily manifested in basic human right in a democratic country as freedom for humanity to express their feelings without any hinderance”, Saqib observed categorically.
“It is the basic right to speak, to be heard, besides to participate in political, artistic, and social life. It also includes the ‘right to know’: the right to seek, receive, and share information through any of the means of the media “, the former General Secretary of AJK SCBA maintained.
Javaid Najam ul Saqib continued as saying “importance of freedom of speech enables the free exchange of ideas, opinions and information and thus allows members of society to form their own opinions on issues of public importance”.
“Freedom of expression serves public debate and supports a free and independent media besides informing citizens of the transparent functioning of the state”, he observed.
Javed Najam-ul-Saqib. while elaborating the impending negative repercussions of said implementation of the above ordinance through the amendment in the interim constition of AJK, that if a government curbs freedom of expression, it can have several negative effects on society, including:
1. Suppression of dissent: Curbing freedom of expression can silence opposition voices, stifling debate and discussion on important issues.
2. Limited access to information: Restricting freedom of expression can lead to censorship, limiting citizens’ access to information and knowledge.
3. Intimidation and fear: Crackdowns on free expression can create a culture of fear, intimidating people from speaking out against injustices.
4. Undermining democracy: Freedom of expression is essential for democratic participation and accountability.
5. Stifling creativity and innovation: Censorship can hinder artistic, literary, and scientific progress.
6. Social polarization: Suppressing certain viewpoints can deepen social divisions.
7. Economic impacts: Restricting free expression can deter foreign investment and tourism.
8. Human rights violations: Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right.
9. Lack of transparency and accountability: Governments may hide corruption and abuses and
10. Isolation and stagnation: Societies that restrict free expression often lag behind in social, cultural, and economic progress, he concluded.