April 30, 2002	Tuesday	Safar 16, 1423

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PESHAWAR, April 29: Speakers at a seminar on Monday hoped that the  journalists would play their role as defenders of  democracy and basic rights of citizens in the future political structure of the country.

The seminar titled “Human Rights and Media Role” was organized by  the Peshawar Press Club to highlight the human rights  abuses.

The chairman of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Afrasyab  Khattak predicted that the future parliament would be sandwiched  between the National Security Council and the powerful chain of  district Nazimeen, working for the extension of the present government.

He said one (government) out of the four pillars of the  state was encroaching upon the very rights of three remaining  estates — legislature, judiciary and the Press. Those who were supposed  to defend the country were playing with its solidarity, he added.

The state, he said, was reluctant to accept the individual  as a social unit. “Every person gets recognition either on the  basis of his/her social position, racial background or financial status in  Pakistan. The individual holds no place in our  society,”  he added.

He underlined the need for educating the people on the importance  of the Constitution. “Those who are ignorant of  their rights hold no rights. The media can play an effective role in educating the people about their basic rights,” he pointed out.

Mr Khattak said: “If the government commits any wrongdoing, the media easily criticise it, but if a powerful personality  commits the same blunder, the media ignores it by dubbing it as a private affair. In any case wherein a powerful individual or group abuses the rights of a weaker individual or a family, it is  condemnable,” he added.

Referring  to the sort of “real  democracy”  being propagated by the certain politicians and the government, he said the democracy was a social attitude and a positive state of mind which could not be confined to casting of votes. He urged the people to collectively work for the promotion  of the democratic culture, which created a tolerant environment  for every  one in society. “In a feudal-cum-tribal society one  cannot exercise democratic rights,”