ISLAMABAD:
The South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) denounced US unilateralism and violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty, international law and United Nations conventions. The association unanimously adopted a resolution condemning the operation against Osama Bin Laden in Abbotabad.
The resolution was passed on Wednesday during a consultation tiled ‘Post -Operation Geronimo: Predicaments of Pakistan’. A number of people, including politicians, intellectuals and media persons participated in the event.
The participants condemned all extremist elements and terrorist groups, as well as their patrons, protectors, financiers and handlers, who defy state writ at will and “use” Pakistan’s territory.
They expressed serious concerns over the predicaments that the people and state of Pakistan are currently facing because of a “narrow, militaristic, adventurist and isolationist security paradigm and self-defeating strategic policies.”
In the resolution, they took serious exception to the parallel centres of power in violation of the constitution and the domination of the armed forces over democratically elected institutions. They accused the security establishment of defining such foreign and security policies that have brought much harm to the nation.“Redefine Pakistan’s role as an enlightened, moderate and peace loving state, dedicated to the progress and prosperity of the peoples of all federating units. National policy must be defined by the parliament which should have full control over the budgets and command structures of the armed forces and intelligence agencies,” the resolution stated.
Speaking at the opening session, SAFMA Secretary General Imtiaz Alam said that the Bin Laden fiasco had badly exposed Pakistan. He said it is unfortunate that Pakistan has become a place of experimentation, where we are facing tough challenges because of the terrorists that we ourselves created.“We have no more space. We have already lost half of Pakistan. It is time for our leadership to play a vital role,” he suggested.
The participants also welcomed the Joint Session of the parliament and its unanimous decision to appoint an independent commission through a bipartisan process.
Speaking at the occasion PPP Senator Taj Haider identified religious extremism as the real challenge of the country.”From the day that Pakistan came into being, religious extremism has made us suffer and we continue to do so,” he added.
Justice (r) Tariq Mehmood was of the view that the nation was still not united despite such a “big disaster”. He called upon Pakistanis to unite. The participants stressed the importance of the media in playing a positive role rather than, in their view, misleading the public.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 19th, 2011.
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