LAHORE – The triangle of truth, justice and media is obligatory for real democracy in Pakistan. The society could not be revolutionised until masses realise their responsibilities of leadership screening through voting and grilling the guilty instead of gratifying the mighty.
Sartaj Aziz in his presidential address said that during dictatorship era, both the judiciary and parliament became weak but after the successful lawyers’ movement, both institutions became powerful.
He said that the media keeps check on different pillars of the state and paves way for accountability. He criticised the so-called anchors who happened to be key players in memogate scandal that surfaced a couple of days ago. He called upon the media houses to devise code of conduct for objective and impartial reporting.
Justice (R) Mian Mehboob Ahmad said that truth was the foundation stone of a society. Truth, he said, was promoted neither at home nor at educational institutions. Seven percent of the social disputes find way to the courts of law and rest of 93 percent remain in the society, he added. He said that the Holy Prophet (PBUH) besides establishing first federal state by signing ‘Madina Pact’ gave a historic Charter of Human Rights at Hijjatul-wida in a multi-racial society.
Qayyum Nizami said that any society based on justice and truth might be a solid society, adding that morally bankrupt people gave birth to an ill-informed media.
He criticised some anchors who supported business tycoon instead of the judiciary, adding that the ruling class did not like an independent judiciary that grilled the guilty. He cited the Japanese society where courts were empty of people because the citizens spoke truth. Farrukh Sohail Gowindi said that electronic media promoted corporate culture that was milestone for the current democracy. He said that our media reflected a deteriorating society. The society needed a new thought like that of Allama Iqbal for a true revolution, he stressed.
