Pakistan’s problems: ‘No solutions without freedom of expression’
After identifying multiple problems faced by Pakistan on the social, political and economic fronts, a scholar has suggested that for solutions, Pakistan needs to internalise discussions on them, which cannot be achieved without freedom of expression.
Dr Naheed Zia, dean of the Faculty of Law, Commerce & Management and Administrative Sciences at Fatima Jinnah Women University (FJWU) said this on Tuesday while speaking at a seminar on ‘Pakistan’s Internal Challenges and Response’. The event was organised by the Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI).
“Unless people are able to discuss issues freely, there can be no solutions,” said Dr Zia, adding that there was no freedom of expression in the country as fear suppressed the expression of progressive ideas.
The scholar said that the intellectual and profound discussions taking place in the English language press must be made inclusive by transmitting the same messages to the masses in Urdu. She also pleaded for a uniform education system and levelling of wage differentials.
“Pakistan also needed ‘glasnost’ for its development and progress,” added Dr Zia.
Lt General (retd) Kamal Mateenuddin said no country is without internal conflicts, but the nature of the problems in other countries was not multidimensional. “Pakistan has all sorts of sectarian, communal, religious and tribal problems,” said the retired army officer.
He said that the establishment of the writ of the state across the country was required and that the government needed to maintain the rule of law and good governance besides checking the spread of drug use and radicalisation through religious seminaries. “Intolerance in all forms has reached the tipping point,” said Gen Mateenuddin.
“Every citizen, irrespective of faith or religion, should have equal rights in the country,” he added. The habit of following the rules and laws should be developed not only at an individual level, but also at the national level, said the former army man.
Gallup Pakistan Chairman Dr Ijaz Shafi Gilani identified two broader issues confronting Pakistan. He said the state was failing to comprehend the changes that society has accepted.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 5th, 2012.
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Three organizations while trying to assert its presence has damaged the country to quite an extents: 1. Judiciary. 2. Media. 3. Mobile Phones. Each one has subscribed for package to talk endlessly doing nothing.
Pakistan's problems are of her own making...discarding constitutional and ideological values propounded by the fathers..Sir Syed, Iqbal and Quade Azam.The new middle or the business class are not ready to espouse these values.They have benefited immensely from regimes which took a different path that they year for years when democracy, federalism and freedom were put aside.
Even in english media there is almost no voice about the constitution partiality.With the constitution that we have in Pakistan there can be no hope of any hormoney and peace among different segments of society.Pakistan's constitution infact legitimise hatred and persecutions of weak groups or individuals.The term secular has been made a taboo subject by powerfull rightwings.On every forum it is accepted that Pakistan is a plural society yet a need for secular constitution is ignored.This constitution with its present form will lead us to nowhere but bloodshedd.