Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) Secretary General Mushahid Hussain Sayed on Friday said free media and independent judiciary were the legacy of Madr-e-Millat Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah who throughout her life fought for democracy in Pakistan. Addressing the participants of a condolence conference held to observe the 43rd death anniversary of Madr-e-Millat here on Friday, Mushahid said that free media and independent judiciary were the protectors of democratic process in Pakistan.
"Had there been no media freedom and independent judiciary, there would have been no accountability, which is the soul of democratic process," he said, adding that the ruling elites were afraid of accountability and this was why they were launching campaign against free and independent pillars of democracy.
"Federal government is afraid of independent judiciary while Punjab government is scared of free media as both are holding the rulers accountable. This is a Black Day in Pakistan's democratic history as Punjab Assembly has passed a resolution against media.
"We condemn this act and think that those who have falsely cheated their voters by filing fake degrees have no business in the assemblies," he remarked. He called upon the Punjab Assembly members to withdraw their resolution against media and face the accountability process.
"I wonder why they have turned against media as it was national assembly standing committee on education, which took up the fake degrees matter. Why they are cursing the media now, who is reflecting their own misconduct," he wondered. "In past, law was only for commoners. However, now the independent judiciary and media are holding the powerful accountable. Let me say in categorical terms that my party stands by the media and judiciary who are protectors of the democratic process," he added.
Eulogising the services of Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah, Mushahid Hussain said Madr-e-Millat was the first Pakistani to wage struggle against the dictatorship in Pakistan and she defied General Ayub Khan's martial law. "Had there been no vote fraud in 1965 elections, Fatima Jinnah would have defeated the then dictator. She actually proved that dictatorship is always feeble and flimsy," he added.
"She was the one who looked after PML Youth Wing, Women's Wing and even organised "Bacha Muslim League". This was the reason Quaid-e-Azam always kept her by his side. This was also a message that women have a major role in nation building," he said. He said only those nations had developed where women had worked side by side with men as in developed nations.
A resolution was also passed by the participants to express solidarity with media and judiciary. Another resolution paid homage to Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah for her services to the nation. President PML Women's Wing said Madr-e-Millat Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah was the beacon of hope for the men and women of Pakistan and she fought all her life for supremacy of rule of law.
"Thus, she is a role model for the women segments and we have to follow her footsteps," she added. PML Secretary Finance Imtiaz Ranjha, President PML Federal Capital Rizwan Sadiq Khan, Chairman PML Health Committee Dr Shazia Asad, Joint Secretary Arzoo Kazmi, President Women's Wing Islamabad Surraya Nasim, Senior Vice President Women's Wing Farzana Malik, President PML Rawalpindi Rukhsana Buttar and others also addressed.
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