Early Times Report
Poonch (Mendhar), May 3: The Jammu & Kashmir Press Council of Mendhar Poonch (JKPCMP) has held an important meeting at its office situated at tehsil chowk Mendhar to celebrate the 21th annual World Press Freedom Day Journalists and remembered those fearless journalists who have died for their cause.
The meeting was presided over by JKPCMP President, Mohammed Shafiq Nazki. The meeting was attended by Javid iqbal, Nazim Manhas Azeem Ali shah Bukhari Subash Bali Rajeev Sharma Rohani Chandan Shakeel Ahmed Khurisded Khoker Vinod Dutta Rashid Khan and others.
Every year, May 3rd is a date which celebrates the fundamental principles of press freedom; to evaluate press freedom around the world, to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession.
javid iqbal pleaded that it is an occasion to inform citizens of violations of press freedom-a reminder that in dozens of countries around the world, publications are censored, fined, suspended and closed down, while journalists, editors and publishers are harassed, attacked, detained and even murdered.
Nazim Manhas said, "It is a date to encourage and develop initiatives in favour of press freedom, and to assess the state of press freedom worldwide".
It serves as a reminder to governments of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom and is also a day of reflection among media professionals about issues of press freedom and professional ethics. Just as importantly, World Press Freedom Day is a day of support for media which are targets for the restraint, or abolition, of press freedom. It is also a day of remembrance for those journalists who lost their lives in the exercise of their profession. More than 600 journalists have been killed in the past decade, many while reporting in non-conflict situations. Impunity is also widespread as nine out of 10 cases of killings of journalists go unpunished. JKPCMP President, Nazki War urged United Nations to ensure the safety of journalists (Traditional Media Persons and Digital Media Persons) in every country especially in Conflict Zones of the globe like Kashmir, Palestine, Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq etc. Shakeel Ahmed said the Journalism was facing different challenges and was passing through a critical phase and .vowed to continue the mission of those fearless journalists who laid down their lives for fair and just journalism. |
