KARACHI, May 2: Political leaders, media experts and senior journalists at a discussion on Media and Good Governance here on Monday felt that to attain the objective of good governance, print and electronic media should join hands for ensuring freedom of expression and access to information.

The discussion was organized by Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) in memory of the late Muazzam Ali, a veteran journalist and founder chairman of PPI news agency, on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day here at a local hotel.

The participants lauded services rendered by the late journalist for the freedom of expression.

Former federal minister for information Javed Jabbar said there was still a great deal of information that never reached people. He said private TV channels should contribute towards good governance and bringing to forth people’s grievances.

Paid tributes to Muazzam Ali, he said that he had established the news agency solely with his commitment and will.

MMA leader and Naib Amir of Jamaat-i-Islami Senator Prof Ghafoor Ahmed said that print media, which had played an important role in the creation of Pakistan, should perform its responsibilities in protecting the country and its institutions as per the expectations of its people.

“If we want to protect our country and have good governance, we will have to save our institutions in the larger national interest.”

Describing Muazzam Ali as a sincere and patriot Pakistani, he said that during a meeting before Dhaka fall, he had urged JI leaders to play their role in preventing dismemberment of Pakistan.

Secretary General of the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) Dr Jabbar Khattak said that media, especially some newspapers and working journalists, had offered great sacrifices in the past due to which freedom of expression and access to information had been restored to a great extent these days.

“Media has played its role in promoting good governance in Pakistan, but there is still a lot to be done to achieve the desired level of good governance and transparency,” he observed.

He said CPNE believed that media organizations were not exempted from accountability. It had struggled for the establishment of the Press Council and Press Freedom Monitoring Desk, he pointed out, adding that some newspapers had decided to have an institution of ombudsman to redress complaints of readers and all others concerned.

President of the Pakistan Mazdoor Kisan Party (PMKP) Fatehyab Ali Khan highlighted the role of working journalists, and said that owing to their contributions and sacrifices, people were now enjoying freedom of expression and access to information, besides witnessing positive changes in the civil society.

He recalled that during the Movement for the Restoration of Democracy in Zia era, the office-bearers of Karachi Press Club had provided the MRD leadership the platform. This, he added, reflected the journalists’ commitment to democracy.

Former chairperson of Mass Communication Department, Dr Shahida Kazi said people thought that freedom of expression had been restored. However, she pointed out, criticism on government brought no positive change in its attitude.

PPI Chairman Owais Aslam Ali, Fazl Qureishi, Qutubuddin Aziz, Abdur Rahim Mausavi and others paid tributes to Muazzam Ali for his contribution towards journalism, Islamic banking and Islamic art.—PPI