KARACHI, July 28: Speakers at a seminar on Challenges to Press Freedom held on Thursday under the auspices of the Jamaat-i-Islami, Sindh, described freedom of expression as ‘oxygen tent’ for a civilized society and military rule as ‘a real threat to press freedom’.

“Press freedom is integral part of democracy,” MMA Sindh’s chief Asadullah Bhutto told the seminar, adding that safeguards for press freedom had remained a challenge in this country.

Referring to the recent action against newspapers and magazines, and arrest of journalists, he said all democratic forces should stand behind journalists for the restoration of constitutional and fundamental rights.

Criticizing Gen Musharraf’s concept of ‘enlightened moderation’, he argued that Pakistan was created in the name of Islam.

President of the ARD Sindh Zain Ansari observed that press in the country was not free. He urged politicians and civil society organizations to join hands in order to foil all attempts aimed at curbing press freedom in the country.

PPP leader Habibuddin Junedi said without press freedom, establishment of a democratic and civil society would be a distant dream. He observed that press and democracy in Pakistan had remained under siege.

He urged all democratic forces and civil society organization to launch a joint struggle for the restoration of real democracy and free press so that people could enjoy their fundamental right of freedom of expression.

General Secretary of the Hyderabad Press Club Shahid Shaikh criticized the government for using force against journalists. He stressed intellectuals and writers to take a firm stand against curbs on press freedom.

Vice-President of the Sindhi Media Forum Younus Mehar said no one should impose his ideas and decisions on others.

Columnist Shahnawaz Farooqi said that the threat being faced by the press was a challenge not only to politicians and journalists, but also to the society very existence which was at risk.

The others who attended the seminar included Chairman of the Pakistan Press International (PPI) Owais Aslam Ali, Fazal Qureshi, MPA Younus Barai and a large number of journalists and human right activists.—PPI