A seminar held by the Pakistan Bar Council and the Lahore High Court Bar Association on Thursday rejected the government's decision to regulate social media. The seminar addressed by politicians, journalists, rights activists and lawyers also condemned self censorship enforced on mainstream media.
The seminar in a resolution passed unanimously said the current regulations if implemented would place further restrictions on the social media, curtail freedom of speech and violate people's fundamental rights and give state overreaching powers to penalize citizens on vague definitions of national security and interest.
It expressed concerns over safety of journalists and demanded a swift justice in all cases including murder of Aziz Memon who worked for KTN. It said all laws which curb freedom of expression under the pretext of national security needed to be repealed to guarantee citizens' right to freedom of expression and free speech.
The resolution further demanded of the government to abide by ILO convention in CPEC economic zones where labourers were not allowed to form unions or protest.
PBC Vice Chairman Abid Saqi, MNA Rana Sanaullah Khan, PPP Punjab President Qamar Zaman Kaira, Pakhtun Tahaffuz Movement MNA Mohsin Dawar, Afrasiab Khattak and Ahsan Wayn of Awami National Party, veteran rights activist I A Rehman, journalist Imtiaz Alam and Ayaz Ameer, Muneezay Jahangir, advocate Hina Jillani were the prominent speakers.
Rana Sana said the freedom of expression was the basic right of life. He condemned the new media regulations by the government and said the attempt in fact meant to silence the dissenting voices. Rana Sana said the Bar made the country strong by inviting Dawar to the seminar and let him express his views.
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