LAHORE: Journalists and civil society activists on Monday expressed concern over “suppression of freedom of expression, rights-based movements and dissent”.
During a meeting at Safma Secretariat Lahore, the representatives of civil society and media said that “the ongoing reign of repression against a section of media, rights-based movements and those who are critical of an extended role of non-elected institutions” is objectionable.
The activists and media representatives also urged the parliamentary forces, civil society organisations and the media bodies to ensure fair and transparent elections and guarantee a “truly representative system and sovereignty of the people.”
They also demanded an end to the ongoing “arm-twisting” of a section of media, including GEO and Dawn, the rights-based movements, including Pashtun youth movement for the civil rights of tribal people and other sections.
Referring to Supreme Court (SC)’s decision to temporarily place a ban on “anti-judiciary speeches” of Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz and several other lawmakers, the media and rights activists said that the decision is “against freedom of expression”.
They, however, were of the opinion that if the PML-N leaders among others had committed contempt of court, proceedings against should be initiated instead.
The meeting was attended by leading intellectuals, journalists, editors, lawyers and civil society activists.
