PAKISTAN: Publication of cartoons 'irresponsible journalism'

PFUJ appeals to international journalist unions to set up press code of ethics to stop 'irresponsible journalism'

Dawn
Monday, February 6, 2006

Karachi --- The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has termed the publication of blasphemous cartoons in some European newspapers as a regrettable and irresponsible piece of journalism and appealed to journalists' unions around the world to devise an international press code of ethics for the promotion of responsible journalism, says a press release issued by the PFUJ on Monday.

The PFUJ believes that journalists should be more responsible where there is a possibility that reports, photographs or cartoons may hurt the feelings of followers of any religion, faith, sect, ethnic group, oppressed or distressed people.

The PFUJ said it wanted to reiterate that civility and education demand that all groups must learn to respect the sentiments and feelings of others rather than condemn and punish others just because they have divergent beliefs and views.

"We feel that freedom of thought and expression is an inalienable human right but we must reiterate that freedom of expression is one thing and negative freedom quite another. It is the latter that is the cause of all friction and internecine feuds the world over."

Date Posted: 2/6/2006

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