FREEDOM OF PRESS GONE TOO FAR

Honorable Teachers, Respected Jewry members and my dear fellows, Assalam o Alaikum!
Freedom is important, so is the responsibility, and we are living in an independent democratic
society. The importance of freedom cannot be denied rather worth appreciative but here we
are talking about the freedom of press that is gone too far, and respected audience this is my
topic for today. The press plays a very positive and constructive role in a democracy. It keeps
the people informed of the national and international news and happenings. It brings to the
notice of people the programs, policies and activities of the government. Similarly, it keeps the
Government in the know of the people’s problems, difficulties, hopes and aspirations. Thus the
press plays a dual role. It serves as a bridge between the Government on the one hand and the
people on the other
My dear students, I support the idea of democracy and freedom of expression. However, I find
it challenging when I see the Pakistani press attacking and mocking people in the public eye
because of their private issues. The most important ingredient of democracy is the existence of
free and fearless press. The voice of the press must not be suppressed because it is equivalent
to the very survival of democracy. But at the same time, the press must not fail to follow its
code of conduct and misuse the freedom.
Quaid-e-Azam, the founder of Pakistan says “I expect press for complete fearless.” regrettably,
press in Pakistan has been unsuccessful to appreciate the goal of Quaid-e-Azam. Restriction to
freedom of expression is the culture of camouflage in bureaucracy. Under the press and
publication of 1988, print media particularly grew rapidly and so its revenue. However it
opened up the doors for yellow and lifafa (Envelop) journalism (Earning of unlawful money by
journalists). Despite all these menaces, Pakistan’s print media are generally assumed among the
most outspoken in South Asia.
Media give importance to some people or group by portraying them frequently and
marginalizing others by ignoring them. Most of the TV programs either film or dramas portray
violent behavior. Majority of news stories in print and electronic media include violence and
criminal acts. Most of the violence media contents contain murder, fraud, drug, terrorism etc.
Reporting of various crimes has no relationship to their relative frequency in the community.
The known people include politicians, political candidates, and ministers, leading federal and
provincial officials, alleged and actual violators of law. The unknown who represent 5% of the
coverage are strikers, protestors, victims and rioters. The major topics of news are Government
conflicts and disagreements, Government decisions, proposals, ceremonies, protest violence,
crimes, scandals, disasters and investigations.
In intruding into the personal lives of innocent people, in refusing to help a victim in an
accident, as well as not taking into account the how a person might be feeling after a
traumatizing event, what the effects are of the story. The press only cares about the story, and
will go to any limits to make sure that they get it. Press a friend or a foe? The press needs to
regain control of the way in which they gather information and present it to the public.
Otherwise the press will remain a foe, and continue to go too far, in their pursuit to inform.
Sacrifices offered by people like Mr. Zaidi did bring freedom to the media but the free media in
Pakistan is no longer an agent of change. Basing upon the situation I would like to say that we
were better human beings when we were in chains. We do not deserve this freedom.