Like every year, the world is observing the press freedom day on 3rd May, which is celebrated with the aim to give the freedom of expression to the media as it can bring the truth to the people. The right to express freely is also provided in the constitution of Pakistan but the powerful elements are trying to prevent the media because the truth hurts their personal interests.
Journalism is one of the hardest professions of life in which all its sections including reporting of news stories, editing, composing, proof reading, page making and printing requires a lot of hard work.
When the world sleeps, the journalist works and utilizes their pen to inform the people. Whenever the journalist tries to unearth the hidden facts, which is the part and parcel of their duties, then different quarters not only pressurize them but also give life threats to them.
There is no doubt that journalism is the fourth pillar of the state, which provides power to the remaining three pillars of the state including administration, legislation and judiciary and in this way the state stands on strong foundations.
As a matter of fact, journalism acts as a bridge between the government and people as the journalists after unveiling the truth, convey the people’s problems to the government and tell the public about the government policies.
Journalists as well as their institutions have been the victim of coerce for the last many decades. Powerful elements make efforts for the implementation of a peculiar agenda and whoever opposes it, he is removed by hook and crook even if he is murdered. But there are journalists around the globe who are endeavoring for the dignity of the pen and freedom of expression.
Like other countries of the world, Pakistani working journalists are holding high values of their profession with courage as they kept alive the mission of knowing truth and conveying it to the people.
Many journalists like Ashraf Sharif sacrificed their lives in the line of their duties. The civil society pays a rich tribute to all those journalists who thwarted the malicious intentions of cruel rulers by standing steadfastly to convey the truth to the people.
Actually the media is such a mirror, by which the corrupt elements frighten by seeing their dreadful face and instead of modification of their ill deeds they try to break the mirror.
It is not a new story that the powerful but corrupt elements harm the journalistic institutions financially and try to bend them to their knees.
It is the history of Pakistan that whether it is dictatorship or democracy, the rulers tried to put pressure on the media. Unluckily the behavior of our rulers is such that they want the media to sing the applauding songs for them. They can’t even tolerate the slight critics against them.
Now it is the need of the hour to give the journalists freedom of expression as well as financial liberty so as they may continue to pass on the truth to the people. The rulers as well as the people who are enjoying power in any field of life may change their attitude and should digest the truth no matter what goes against them. If journalism prevails in its true sense, then democracy would also live longer which would be the first step towards prosperous Pakistan.