Muzaffarabad

Press release India and Pakistan urged to include media in CBMs on Kashmir Muzaffarabad:Sunday, 03 May 2009: Civil rights group Press for Peace (PFP) has urged India and Pakistan to exempt Kashmiri journalists from obtaining visa to travel freely in all parts of divided state. It also called upon both governments to start a special mini Truck service between Muzaffarabad and Stringer on daily basis to deliver newspapers and periodicals published from both capitals. The group hoped that these interventions would help free flow of information across all parts of Kashmir and genuinely facilitate ongoing Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) between India and Pakistan as well. In separate letters sent to Prime Ministers of neighbouring countries, Man Mohan Singh and Yousaf Raza Gillani, PFP Executive Director Zafar Iqbal drew attention of their governments towards causes which have affected free flow of information in the region, specifically in conflict zone of Jammu and Kashmir. The letter said that the ‘Iron curtain’ of Line of Control (LoC) has constrained citizens of Jammu and Kashmir to live in an ill-informed and to some extends misinformed life about other parts of their divided homeland. In the absence of factual and accurate information rumors and half-truths spread uncontrollably and create mess among the people on both sides and they feel vulnerable and insecure. This information and communication gap could only be transformed through efficient flow of information and free access of media to all parts of State. The PFP also demanded protection of media persons in the region and hoped that concerned governments and media bodies would initiate some urgent and concrete measures to train media persons to work in conflicts and circumstances under attacks of terrorism. Deep concerns were also expressed in the letter about the worsening situation of media freedom in Pakistan. It urged Pakistani premier to resolve outstanding problems faced by media community in Pakistan administrative Part of Kashmir. “The powers of granting Declarations for media publications and transmissions must be given to AJ&K government taking from A J & K Council,” it further said. It also demanded the enforcement of the Wage Board Award in AJ&K and establishment of School of Communication and Media Studies in Azad Kashmir University to raise the standard of local journalism.