Debating media’s role: Journalists need greater understanding of rights

Speakers urge media practitioners to be impartial in their reporting

GILGIT: Gilgit-Baltistan’s Minister for Information Iqbal Hasan on Tuesday complained that journalists in the region lacked an understanding of human rights.

“In the context of Gilgit-Baltistan, the history of media [here] shows that there is a dire need to provide awareness through media to and get a clearer picture of the relationship between media and human rights,” he said while addressing a seminar on “Media and human rights in Gilgit Baltistan- Trends and Dimensions” at the Karakoram International University (KIU) on Tuesday.

He lamented that local media outlets did not have enough understanding of human rights.

Talking about the recent agreement signed between KIU and China, he said KIU would prove to be a “hub for research and educational activities” in meeting the challenges G-B was likely to face in the wake of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

“This is the only university of G-B and hopefully it will prove to be a hub of research and provide solutions to [our] problems,” the minister.

He emphasised on KIU’s role in the multi-billion dollar economic corridor, which he said, was crucial to help G-B gain maximum benefits from the project.

Addressing the seminar, Assistant Professor Sultan Ahmed said role of media in protecting and safeguarding human rights is already defined in Article 19 of UNDHR.

He emphasised that journalists have a moral obligation to promote human rights.



Aziz Ali Dad, a development expert, said KIU must be free of sectarian and ethnic considerations to enable students to progress in the field of research.

“But unfortunately our cultural and religious affiliations are quite strong and we tend to go with them even after securing the best degrees from abroad.”

The seminar was also addressed by speakers from AKRSP and KIU.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 30^th, 2016.