Oath taking ceremony of Lahore Press Club

Quran Recitation

Oct 16, 2011, Oath taking ceremony of Lahore Press Club

Address of Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani
Prime Minister of Pakistan
At Oath-taking ceremony of office holders of Lahore Press Club
October 16,2011
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President
Lahore Press Club

Secretary General
Lahore Press Club

Members of Governing Body

Excellencies,

Distinguished Delegates,

Ladies and Gentlemen

Assalam-o-Alakium

It is a matter of honour for me to attend the oath-taking ceremony of the
newly elected members of Lahore Press Club. The distinguished and
privileged place Lahore occupies in our national journalism needs no
introduction. Such towering personality as Zafar Ali Khan, Shourish
Kashmiri, Hamid Nizami, Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi, Z.A.
Sulehari, Prof Waris Mir, Safar Mir, Zaheer Kashmiri, Hanif Ramay, Majid
Nizami, Zahoor Alam Shaheed, and people like Arif Nizami played leading
role in promoting the values of freedom of expression. The people
belonging to the world of journalism have been equal partners in the
struggle for restoration and consolidation of democracy waged by the
masses. Our bold and courageous journalists set up examples worthy of
emulation on which we can rightly take pride.

It is the singular honour of Lahore Press Club that it is the biggest Club
of Pakistan which has a total membership of 1200. This Press Club is a
centre of the intellectuals and journalists, which fosters political
awareness among the people. This Press Club has earned national and global
fame because of its constructive role and valuable services. I personally
regard the Lahore Press Club as a fountain of knowledge that benefits the
seekers of wisdom and intellect.

Ladies and Gentlemen

You are fully aware of the fact that democracy and journalism are integral
to each other. Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Pakistan’s Founding
Father, had rightly said:

“Nation and press rise and fall together.”

The incidents from our national history authenticate this saying of our
beloved Quaid. Pakistan People’s Party has waged struggle for freedom and
promotion of journalism right from day one. Our leaders, Shaheed Zulifqar
Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Montrama Benazir Bhutto, participated in the
protest camps of journalists as a demonstration of solidarity with them in
this city. Whenever our party got an opportunity to serve the people of
Pakistan, we took many worthwhile steps for the welfare of journalistic
community as well as for modernizing the field of journalism in accordance
with the demands of time. We continue to make these efforts by taking a
leaf from the book of our leaders and in line with their vision.

By grace of Allah Almighty, the Pakistani media enjoys exemplary freedom
today. I myself abolished the black laws promulgated by the dictators,
which hindered the way of freedom of media. The amendments introduced in
Pemra Ordinance 2002 and the press laws promulgated on Nov 3, 2007 were
done away with. Now no one can impede the freedom of expression in
Pakistan.

Ladies and Gentlemen

The present democratic government fully respects the freedom of expression
with its spirit. Pakistan People’s Party believes in empowering the people
of Pakistan and we would make sure that people’s right to know is
safeguarded at every cost. I am pleased to tell you that Ms Sherry Rehman
presented a Freedom of Information Bill in the National Assembly on behalf
of our government. This Bill would fulfill the demands to facilitate
people’s access to information.

You would recall that when the then dictator promulgated the Ordinance,
the journalistic bodies expressed their ire and reservations on that
Ordinance because it suppressed people’s right to know. We do not believer
in press advice and censorship and you are aware of the fact that the
democratic government did not harm or hurt the media freedom. No
journalist, poet or writer has been put behind bars on the basis of
differences with the government’s policies nor has sanctions been imposed
on any newspaper or TV channel.

Another achievement of the democratic government is the establishment of
the Press Council of Pakistan. It was established under a law in 2002 but
could not become functional. Now it has become a fully functional body. I
am sure that Press Council would play the role of a bridge between the
people and the media organizations and it would evolve into such a
sovereign, independent and impartial organization as cold be compared to
any regional or global organizations.

Ladies and Gentlemen

The present democratic government is providing maximum facilities to the
journalists through grants and financial assistance to the press clubs.
When any journalist falls victim to terrorism, the Ministry of Information
provides financial assistance to his family. The Ministry also funds the
education of children of such families. I have distributed plots among the
deceased of such journalists so that they could live relatively peaceful
life.

Our government has a full understanding of the fact that in view of
terrorist threats, the media-related individuals and organizations
entertain fears of loss of life and property. Many of our journalists have
fallen victim to incidents of terrorism. The government is providing moral
and financial assistance to the families of journalists in every possible
way.

When journalist Saleem Shahzad was brutally murdered, the government set
up a high-powered Judicial Commission to investigate the murder. This
Commission is working with the complete support from the government and
its findings are awaited. I assure you that the government would take all
possible steps to implement the findings of the Commissions.

On the occasion of oath-taking ceremony of the National Press Club
Islamabad, I had declared the establishment of an Endowment Fund with Rs.
200 million for the welfare of those journalists who laid down their lives
in the line of duty. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has
finalized the laws to operate the utilization of this fund and all
stakeholders have been taken on board in this regard.

Enhancing the media capacity is part of this government’s agenda and the
efforts are afoot to impart training to journalists covering the conflict
zones. The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting would get in touch with
the media organizations to make arrangements of training courses for the
journalists who cover conflict zones.

Ladies and Gentlemen

Our government has cordial relations with the journalist community. This
is glaring proof of the fact that we respect both the freedom of
expression as well as the media men from the core of our heart. Promoting
the atmosphere of confidence among the state institutions is our foremost
priority and consequently all state institutions are discharging their
responsibilities within their constitutional domains.

Let us resolve to turn Pakistan into a moderate, welfare, democratic and
Islamic country in accordance with the vision of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali
Jinnah, Allama Muhammad Iqbal, Shaheed Zulifqar Ali Bhutto, and Shaheed
Mohtrama Benazir Bhutto. The journalistic community has to play a central
role in this regard. Our government is ready to extend every kind of
cooperation in this regard.

I pray to Allah Almighty to guide us to serve Pakistan and its people! (Amen)

In the end, I announce an amount of 10 million for Lahore Press Club.

Pakistan Piandaabad