SAFMA Sec-General condemns rejection of Ayaz Amir's papers

PML-N MNA’s disqualification is indicative of a dangerous, fascist trend, says Imtiaz Alam.

South Asian Free Media Association's (SAFMA) Secretary-General, Imtiaz Alam condemned leading columnist and PML-MNA Ayaz Amir's disqualification from taking part in the elections on "flimsy ideological grounds".

"It is a sad reflection on the low quality of intellect that ordinary officials with low academic qualification are passing judgments on matters of interpretation that have remained a bone of contention among historians and qualified academics,” Alam said.

Amir's disqualification on the basis of his articles being judged as “against the ideology of Pakistan” by a local returning officer is a gross violation of freedom of expression and an attack on press freedom, he said.

Alam expressed his serious concern about the tendency of election officials to become “ayatollahs” without having any spiritual and ideological credentials. He added that “Ziaist elements” had become active to disrupt the democratic process by resorting to McCarthy's methods.

"The progressive and democratic people have their own interpretation of the ideology of Pakistan and the role of religion in politics which is different from that of the fundamentalists. This ideological debate has been continuing for the last many centuries."

The SAFMA Secretary-General said the PML-N MNA’s disqualification is indicative of a dangerous, fascist trend that all democratic forces must resist. Alam called on the Chief Election Commissioner to intervene and stop this trend of judging a candidate’s faith and rescind the order of the returning officer.