LAHORE, Jan 15: A confluence of intellectuals and other known figures said at a seminar on Saturday the Quaid-i-Azam wanted a free and socially responsible press.

The seminar on "The Quaid-i-Azam's concept of journalism" was organized by the Press Institute of Pakistan. Institute president Majid Nizami was in the chair.

Prominent among the speakers were Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Aneesa Zaib Tahirkheli, Senator S.M. Zafar, historian Dr Safdar Mahmood, Quaid-i-Azam Acad-emy's former director Prof Shariful Mujahid, Punjab University's mass communication department chairman Dr Mugheesuddin Shaikh and monthly Shadab's editor Dr Kanwal Feroze.

The Quaid-i-Azam Papers project editor-in-chief Prof Zawwar Hasan Zaidi sent his paper from Islamabad. Minister Aneesa Zaib called upon all political parties to develop a consensus on various national issues. She said media could play an important role for the political parties to reach consensus and in creating awareness among the people.

Referring to the uniform issue, she said criticism and debate on it must be stopped now and the political parties should rather concentrate on finding out solution to the national issues. "They should agree on a common minimum programme."

She said the Quaid always favoured freedom of the press. It was the responsibility of the civil society to monitor freedom of expression in the country. She believed that the Pakistani press had achieved a good deal of freedom during the past five years, but made a point that keeping it going was more difficult than seeking it.

She said the Quaid had to face strong opposition from the Hindu political parties and the press as well as the Muslim nationalists, but he stood firm. The government, she said, would give private radio and television channels to newspaper owners, something that had never happened elsewhere in the world. It had already given licences to seven groups of newspapers, she added.

Senator S.M. Zafar said the press in Pakistan had achieved its freedom after great struggle by the journalists. But before that, he said, the journalists had been expressing their views indirectly through editorials and articles.

He said the credit must be given to the Quaid-i-Azam for founding such notable daily newspapers like Dawn, The Pakistan Times, Manshoor, besides several journals and magazines.

The Quaid wanted the Muslims to develop their own thinking in a positive manner that was necessary for taking a firm stand on issues confronting them, he said, recalling he was also a staunch advocate of law.

He said Mr Jinnah had set an example of the freedom of press while speaking on a motion in the viceroy's council moved by the government against publication of his speech made at the floor of the house. The Quaid's speech was published by the Bombay Chronicle and the government had issued notice to the newspaper for publishing the speech.

Speaking on the motion, the Quaid argued that if he had freedom of speech why shouldn't he have freedom to publish it. The house agreed and the action against the newspaper was withdrawn.

Referring to the Quaid's speech of Aug 11, 1947, Prof Shariful Mujahid said his speeches and statements should be read in totality to understand his personality and depth of his views.

He said the founder of the nation was a great protagonist if the human rights were violated. He said freedom of press could not be practised without social responsibility.

According to Prof Mujahid, the civilian governments had taken action against 30 newspapers and journals during seven years of their governance after independence in the Punjab alone.

The Quaid's concept of journalism could not be separated from his concept of the state for the realization of which "we have been waging jihad," said Majid Nizami. He said he was not against the military uniform but its proper use was the defence of the country and not operations in Wana and Balochistan.

It was also responsible for the separation of East Pakistan. Ayub Khan had uprooted the nursery of politicians with his martial law in 1958 and since then politicians ceased to exist.