Media, extremism: Journalists seek protection from UN

Political, military leadership criticised for soft stance on Malala incident.

Expressing dismay over the state’s failure, participants at a conference on Friday sought help from the United Nations to ensure protection to mediapersons.

They also came down heavily on the government and security functionaries for their apologetic stance towards extremist elements with specific reference to the Malala incident, said a press release issued by the South Asian Women in Media.

“[The political and military leadership] should resign for their weak response on the terrorist attack on Malala Yousufzai,” senior journalist Imtiaz Alam said while addressing the second national conference on “Media, gender, obscenity and terrorism” at Bhurban on Friday.

Leading journalists, social activists and scholars said that all the state institutions, intelligence agencies, army and religious leaders are “responsible” for the attack on Malala.

The house reached a unanimous consensus that incident was an attack on every girl child of Pakistan.

They urged the leadership of all political and religious parties to realise the situation in the country; that if such attacks not stopped today, there is no tomorrow for us.

A statement issued later said they will appeal to the UN to provide security to our children, if our own resources are not enough.

The house also urged women in media to raise their voice to protect the future of Pakistan. Speakers said today our national identity is facing a serious threat and challenge from fascism and misinterpreted religion.

Imtiaz Alam, M Ziauddin, Kishwar Naheed, Farzana Ali and MNA Kishwar Zehra, addressed the gathering of over 150 leading women journalists.

In the second session on “Media and Gender Policy”, media experts urged the gathering, particularly women in media, to play their dynamic role to highlight gender issues and to raise voice for women rights within the media.

The third session featured leading performing arts personalities highlighting how woeman are negatively treated in media. They condemned the exploitation of women in the name of obscenity.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 20^th, 2012.