KARACHI, Aug 21: Terming right to information as a key to strengthening of democracy and safeguard of citizens rights, speakers at a conference called for making joint efforts by all groups of the society to ensure access to information at all levels.

The two-day moot titled “Mass communication conference” was organised by the mass communication department of the Federal Urdu University of Arts, Sciences and Technology, on Monday at the Pakistan Arts Council.

Speakers were unanimous that only freedom of expression could build up and enhance confidence of the people in the government and help fulfill the targets of good governance and work under a national agenda, excluding the mafia and vested interest pressures.

Speaking at the inaugural session noted poet and columnist, Jamiluddin Aali, said that the “right to know” gratify specially the media working for the rights of the masses and as such there was a need to reducing official clauses which hindered free flow of information.

He noted that the recently promulgated “access to information ordinance” of the Sindh government contained at least 12 exceptions, which according to him were uncalled for or without any justification and the Sindh government should explain the expediencies behind such restraints.

The deputy chairman of the FUUAST senate, Prof Fateh Mohammad Malik, who presided over the inaugural session, said that the right to know and freedom of speech were must in the case of media as well, but at the same time there was a need to know how to express and use the information acquired from different sources, including the government offices.

In addition to fighting for the right of access to information, the local media should also observe care in using or passing on the terminologies and reckonings, which are being coined or produced by the global establishments, to their readers and viewers, he added, reminding that the emerging trend in the Pakistani media of confining talks and reports to international perspectives mostly, ignoring the national causes or local sensitivities will prove harmful.

FUUAST Vice-Chancellor Dr Kamaluddin said that the freedom of expression was the first pillar of any democratic set up, without which the idea of a free society could not be materialised.

The dean of the FUUAST Arts faculty, Rana Hilal, Prof Salim Mughal and Tauseef Ahmad Khan also spoke at the inaugural session.

The first working session of the conference pertained to presentations on “media related laws and right to know”, which was presided over by senior journalist Hussain Naqi.

He referred to various sets of laws and rules related to media rights and access to information effected in the shape of ordinances. Mr Naqi said that laws that restricted the people’s right to know were actually spreading ignorance among the already illiterate masses.

He regretted that Pakistan was among the countries where media policies were framed in a way that restricted any timely dissemination of information or news to people.

Dr Seemi Naghmana of Balochistan University said that the right to access to facts was a tool towards prevalence of good governance, but it was unfortunate to note that in the name of security and national interest certain restrictions were imposed or prolonged in the case of media, undue or some extra constitutional steps and discretionary measures had also been taken, which ultimately harmed the common man’s right to know.

Dr Nisar Zuberi said that ill-informed or ignorant people could not contribute anything towards the betterment of the society, but it was a fact that many of the countries including the Muslim countries were not ready to allow their citizens the basic right to know.

He said that the right to know was not to come on a silver platter but there was a need that people should work jointly and exert pressure in the shape of different groups to win the right to free flow of information.

The black laws, bureaucracy’s whimsical orders, punishment to journalists and other illogical steps have been taken both in army run and democratic governments, which indicated that majority of people, remained without there right to access to information, he added.

Dr Tanvir A. Tahir said that information held the status of oxygen for a society and if people were not given the right to know then how could they think on different social and political issues.

At a session on “the institution of editor in Pakistan”, it was held that today’s editors of newspapers were faced with the task of striking a balance between editorial and administrative matters and also compromise with their respective marketing team for the economical survival of papers.

It was also said that editor’s institution in most of the cases had turned weaker due to the attitudes of owners who wanted to overshadow the editorial command.

It is the shortsightedness of the newspaper owners that they were not allowing the institution of editor to prevail in a true manner, with all dignity and power.