Celebrating commonalities: Af-Pak journalism conference ends

PESHAWAR: Journalists from Pakistan and Afghanistan signed a joint declaration to avoid hate speech in both the countries during a three-day Af-Pak journalism conference held at the University of Peshawar. The conference was arranged by the Free Media Centre during which journalists decided to establish a joint representative forum and form a four-member committee to devise the mechanism and modalities involved. During the conference, media representatives said that both countries share the same religion and culture and also negative aspects such as violence, socio-political instability and lawlessness. Journalists were also urged to play their role to strengthen relations between both the governments and avoid external influences in reporting news. A declaration was signed in which participants stated that leaders of both countries should ensure the exchange of journalists across the border and provide protection to journalists and their families.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 14^th, 2012.