Rabbani pays tribute to martyrs of journalism

Says journalists are being manhandled, tortured and subjected to unnecessary pressures

ISLAMABAD: In view of the volatile political situation and precarious internal environment, Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani has appealed to all political forces and leadership to act with sagacity and take prudent steps to maintain peace, security and stability.

Rabbani was speaking at the inauguration of a monument for martyred journalists at the National Press Club. He paid tributes to the martyrs of journalism who lost their lives in the line of duty.



He said “warlordism is detrimental to the growth of society” and people would resist any move hampering democratic process. He cautioned that country was faced with internal and external threats and there was a dire need to adopt sagacious approach to address the challenges being faced on social and political fronts.

“All the institutions have to work within their constitutional ambit which will help overcome challenges,” the Senate chairman remarked. He called the recent attacks on journalists unfortunate and urged the government to take urgent steps for the protection of journalists and media workers.

He said that the construction of a monument at the press club was a positive sign which showed that sacrifices of journalists would not go unnoticed.

He said the people of Pakistan including media-persons, political workers and labourers sacrificed their lives for upholding the constitution, rule of the law and internal stability, and “establishment of such monuments is a manifestation of the fact that people recognise sacrifices of those unsung heroes”.

Rabbani said people were brutally tortured, put behind the bars and had to face atrocities at the hands of state- and non-state actors, but their resolve remained unshaken. He said that globally such contributions were given a symbolic recognition in the shape of a monument, but unfortunately in Pakistan contributions of the civil society, media, political workers for democracy and human rights were not given a proper recognition to date.

He said that journalists were being manhandled, tortured and subjected to unnecessary pressures. He said in societies with weak institutions and political uncertainty, “the role of journalists gets more prominence”.

The Senate chairman said that the Quaid-e-Azam presented a concept of progressive democratic state in his August 1947 speech, but “unfortunately it was overwhelmed by extremist ideologies”.

If warlords controlled society, nothing would be left, he said, adding that warlordism in different shapes was trying to overwhelm the political landscape of Pakistani society but people of Pakistan would resist any such action as “there is no room for warlordism in the country”.



He said the Senate stands in solidarity with journalist community over Ahmad Noorani’s incident.  He said the House was adjourned in solidarity and the government was directed to bring a journalists protection bill otherwise parliament would itself take the initiative. He underscored the need for strict implementation of the law.

Rabbani thanked the management of the National Press Club for taking a remarkable and historic step to acknowledge the sacrifices of journalists.

The ceremony was also addressed by renowned anchorpersons Hamid Mir, Arshad Sharif and Matiullah Jan, President NPC Shakeel Anjum, President RIUJ Mubarak Zeb and other senior journalists.