KARACHI, May 3: In the absence of the rule of law and without involving civil society in the struggle for a free press, press freedom will remain a far cry.

This was the concerted view of the participants of a dialogue on “State of Press Freedom in Pakistan” organised by the Karachi Union of Journalists in collaboration with the Karachi Press Club to mark the International Press Freedom Day on Thursday.

Jurists, journalists and members of civil society organisations slammed the government’s coercive policies and laws, and demanded hat Pemra laws be repealed. They also demanded the arrest of those involved in the killing and abduction of journalists and their kith and kin.

They expressed concerns over increasing intolerance and violence that had made journalists vulnerable to various hazards, pointing out that six mediamen were killed and more than 50 others injured in the country over the past year alone. The participants also expressed concern over the non-implementation of the 7th wage award for newspaper industry workers.

They called commercial pressure a major challenge to press freedom.

Former chief justice of the Sindh High Court Wajihuddin Ahmed, ex-SHC judge Rashid A. Rizvi, head of the Jinnah University’s Mass Communication Department Prof Shahida Qazi, KUJ President Shamim-ur-Rehman and KPC President Sabihuddin Ghausi were among the prominent figures who participated in the dialogue.

Justice Wajihuddin Ahmad, who presided over the session, quoted Justice Haleem (who had given the dissenting remarks in the judgment on Ahmed Raza Kasuri murder case against PPP chairman Z. A. Bhutto) that judges, lawyers and journalists all were prone to threats and dangers to their lives in Pakistan.

He stressed the need for finding a long-term remedy for ensuring the freedom of the press. He also expressed concern over the non-implementation of the 7th wage award.

Prof Shahida Kazi expressed concerns over the tendency of planted news which had created the crisis of credibility of the media.

Earlier, journalists held a rally in front of the Karachi Press Club to demand freedom of the press in letter and spirit.