Pakistan observing World Press Freedom Day

KARACHI: Pakistan is observing World Press Freedom Day today (Friday) with journalists making resolve to keep pursuing the mission to know and inform others.

At least 42 percent of the world population does not have the right of freedom of expression.

Journalists in Pakistan also still face threats from not only non-state elements but also the state agencies. Several journalists had to lose their lives while performing their professional duties in quest of truth. About 12 journalists were assassinated during the year 2011. The killers of whether Salim Shehzad or Wali Khan Babar could not be tacked down as yet.

The United Nation General Assembly declared May 3 as the World Press Freedom Day in 1991 to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press and remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right of freedom of expression.

On this day over the past 19 years, the world's members of the media had reaffirmed the basic principles of the freedom of press, expressed their determination in defending the freedom of press, and even paid the highest respect and remembrance to those who have lost their lives in harness.