ISLAMABAD - Press Council of Pakistan (PCP) has asked political parties contesting elections to sign a declaration to support freedom of expression and not to interfere in the free functioning of the press during polls.
A press release issued by the PCP here on Friday said that a declaration form in this regard has been sent to political parties to be signed by their leaders or representative to reiterate their pledge to uphold to values of freely operating media during polls.
The points referred to in declaration form include the following:
Political parties will respect freedom of information and expression as guaranteed by article 19-A of the constitution of Pakistan.
All political parties will support and assist in the free functioning of independent press during polls.
All political parties shall declare that no member of any political party or their activist or their supporter will pressurize, intimidate or harass any media person/ media house for political favor during coverage of elections.
Representatives of political parties should also earnestly declared that their members, activist and supporters and transparently.
PCP believes that “Holding Elections” fairly, “Contesting Election” democratically and “Reporting Elections” transparently and responsibly in free media all go side by side towards a common goal that is free and fair elections.
PCP is of the view that all these stakeholders of free and fair elections expect fairness on each other’s part so each of them should also recognized others mandate and rights.
Since reporting election 2013 would be a litmus test of credibility for the performance of freely operating media PCP warns that any attempt or act of undoing present day free media or any interference in the free functioning of the press can harm nascent democracy and would hamper growth of free and independent media in Pakistan.
PCP hopes, in these testing times political parties contesting polls will support free media’s role by signing PCP declaration form as soon as possible.