May 15, 2003	Thursday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 12, 1424

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RAWALPINDI, May 14: Media can play a vital role in discouraging religious extremism and promoting tolerance in society.

These views were expressed at a seminar on “Religious Tolerance and Media”, organized by the National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP) in collaboration with Forum Asia- Taiwan at the Christian Study Centre (CSC) here on Wednesday.

The programme aimed to gauge the outcome of the NCJP members’ meetings with the policy-makers of electronic as well as print media on objective reporting of violence against minorities and the latter’s representation in the state-owned as well as private electronic media.

The speakers discussed the censorship laws and the poor access of journalists to secret information in the country, where the establishment has never encouraged and tolerated democratic values.

Peter Jacob, NCJP’s executive secretary, said the state-owned electronic media had not played its just role in dealing with the issues of the minorities — Hindus, Sikhs and Christians. Besides, he added, very few programmes had been broadcasted or telecast to promote unity among different religious groups nor minorities have been recognized, in a true sense, as Pakistanis and equal to those in the majority.