Relief-a drop in comparison to sea

admin — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 14:59:26 +0000

A brave attempt in a desperate situation was performed by HANDS and We Journalists. When the people were dying due to starvation, when the people were surrounded by diseases, when the people did not have any shelter, at that critical moment a ray of hope has spotlighted HANDS and We Journalists in front of those deprived people. Flood has caused immense miseries to the people. The flood victims have lost their belongings and are now at the disposal of the government officials.
In such a situation HANDS and We Journalists with the collaboration of Philanthropists tried to provide some relief to the flood affectees. It was a very good effort and a very good initiative to facilitate the flood victims. Instead of blame game HANDS and We Journalists took on the responsibility and showed others the concept of self reliance. There are millions of people who have been displaced by flood. The government relief camps were incapable of providing relief on a massive scale.
A total of hundred bags were distributed among the starved, ill and naked people. Before distributing the bags a survey was conducted in the areas where people were lying in open air and were destroyed brutally by flood. So a hundred bags for hundred families were distributed by We Journalists and HANDS. It facilitated a total of 600-700 people. The bags comprised of Flour, Oil, Sugar, and Tea, powder Milk, Maize, Pulses, Rice, and Salt, Spices, Frying pan and Mineral water Bottles.
A total of approximately 600-700 people were facilitated and it showed that if there is determination, devotion and dedication then even the biggest and the worst problem gets resolved. A police picket at Bhit Shah was formed to prevent the flood affectees from entering into the boundaries of the great saint. But people were crying and praying for help. There were thousands of people lying their hopeless and helpless in Hattri, Memon Ji Wassi, Bao Dero, Bharoot, Hala New and Hala old. Government’s efficiency can be judged from such actions. The flood affectees claimed that there had been no one who would have visited them and promised them for any kind of relief. They have not eaten anything from many days.
So We Journalists and HANDS approached those flood victims and provided them relief in the form of ration and facilitated 600-700 people. But it is just a small step and it needs further support and contribution by international donors, local donors, social activists and government officials to facilitate their poor brethren in their devastation.

A Humble Appeal

admin — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 14:54:13 +0000

It is to apprise you all that millions of people have been displaced and thousands have been killed due to the worst ever natural catastrophe in the form of a flood. People are homeless and they have left their belongings and are roaming here and there in search of food. It is a pity that they are starving, they are fighting for their survival, and they are crying for help, their children are fighting for food, clothes are torned, shelter have been snatched from them due to this calamity.
In such a worst and desperate situation it is the responsibility of every one, whether in person or in the form of an organization, that he should contribute in ameliorating the deteriorating situation of their poor brethren. We humbly request the international community and international and local donors and social activists to kindly support us in this act of kindness. We hope that you all will also become serious about the issue and will positively think about dragging the people out of severe affliction.
What is needed at this juncture is a kind of relief in the form of medicines, food items and clothing. Because at present the people are ill, starved and naked. We are looking forward to your favorable response as it is based upon philanthropic attitude and humanitarian approach.

Citizens concern on 18th amendment implementation

admin — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 19:17:02 +0000

Hyderabad (July 24, 2010) Civil society members emphasized the need to strengthen the parliament through initiating citizens dialogues to avert chances of taking over the political power by military generals in Pakistan. Sindh Advocate General Yousuf Leghari said in fact the 18th Amendment could not provide complete provincial autonomy demanding Sindh civil society organizations but it has given little to small provinces and for this credit should go to PPP-led government.
He was speaking in a dialogue “Citizen Speak-Policy Consultation on Implementation of 18th Amendments & Citizens Concerns” organized by We Journalists, Institute for Social Movements (ISM) Pakistan in collaboration with Strengthening Democracy through Parliamentary Development (SDPD) UNDP at a local hotel. Leghari chairing the meeting advised civil society members to design their recommendations regarding different issues with public consensus and send it to the government, legislators and political parties for making a voice stronger. “Who stops you not to do this. If some points are lacking in the 18th Amendments we can suggest the PPP government to fulfill the flaws the people pointing out.”
He said each and every thing comes under corporations, which will not benefit the provinces if the parliament announces provincial autonomy. “You should not imagine to get complete autonomy till the corporations exist.” He said in fact the constitution guarantees the equal rights to every citizen but in practice the things are quite different.
Sindh AG urged the need to promote professional education in Sindh. “Unless you cannot produce brilliant professionals, how can you justify capability to run your affairs in case of getting complete provincial autonomy,” he questioned. As far as the question of implementation of the constitution is concerned, it is the government’s responsibility and in this regard civil society groups can play constructive role to pressurize the authorities through initiating dialogues, staging protest rallies, raising voice through media channels and other positive options you have. He said the royalty on oil, gas and other natural resources is the right of provinces and they should be benefitted with it.
Karamat Ali, Director Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (Piler) said “on this juncture we should not oppose the decision of 18th Amendment because it is the first time the parliament has taken initiative. We should strengthen the democratic institutions and struggle further for its sovereignty.”
He said more than 20 civil society organizations and some individuals have filed a petition in the Supreme Court to counter the petitions filed by non-democratic forces, which oppose the 18th amendment. He realized the fact that in the process of the 18th Amendment government has taken decisions in the haphazard way and the people think differently. He said the democratic institutions should be made sovereign.
The speakers called for making efforts to introduce 19th Amendments to protect the basic rights of the people. Secondly, they said, we should see the objectives of the legislators, who brought the 18th Amendment hurriedly. But they were agreed that “it is the first time the parliament has taken decision and we should respect it. In the past only military dictators had manipulated the constitution.
In comparison, the speakers said neighbouring Indian judiciary and democratic institutions are more powerful than that of Pakistan. Because, here all the efforts made by the public are destroyed by certain powers, who sabotaged the constitution and crushed the democratic approach by force. In result we could not protect the parliament, representing the populace of the country.
Some of the speakers criticized the government for ignoring small provinces, depriving them of their right to natural resources. They allegedly said actually Punjab’s dominance is creating problems. “Earlier, there was notion that Punjab dominates in military but now it is reality that the province dominates the parliament, have influence on entire decision making,” they reacted.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement MNA Sallahuddin, Abrar Qazi, Barrister Zameer Ghumro, Mustafa Baloch of SPO, Comrade Hussain Bux Thebo, Zulfiqar Shah of ISM-Pak, Jaffar Memon of We Journalist, Punhal Sario, Veerji Kolhi, Iqbal Mallah, Taj Maree, Dr Ashothama of HRCP Sindh Taskforce, Dr Nazir Shaikh, Jabbar Bhatti and others addressed the crowded gathering.
They said when the government gets taxes it should fulfill its responsibility to ensure each citizen is with job, having three meals, all children are going to schools and ever body have access to health and other basic facilities. The speakers were of the opinion that they should work together to see the parliament empowered and democratic institutions strengthened, so that no body from certain authorities dare to challenge the people’s elected assemblies.

workshop on “investigative journalism and media ethics”

admin — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 12:30:28 +0000

HYDERABAD, June 3: A senior US journalist and Director International Media Affairs, Dr.Sherry Ricchiardi and another senior photojournalist Frank Folwell on Thursday have said that accuracy and truth telling are cardinal principles of investigative reporting as journalists are the bridge between people and government. They were delivering lectures to participants of a one-day training workshop on “investigative journalism and media ethics organised by US Consulate, We Journalists and Center for Peace and Civil Society in Sindhi Muslim society here Thursday . Dr. Sherry described investigating journalism as the watchdog of society and it was the most important tool of journalism to protect society against the powerful ones. She referred to six stages that form basis of investigating reporting by journalists and added that while working on any investigating story the media ethics should not be lost sight of. She said that ethics is an every day business for journalists and they could ask their organisation or the editors that these ethics must be followed adding that BBC’s ethics were wonderful to be adopted if journalists don’t have something in black and white. She quoted several websites for studying code of ethics of journalism.

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She said that journalists must be cautious when comes to competition of reporting as it was upto journalists how to spin or frame something. About attribution of anonymous sources in stories, she said that at times it could be harmful and in US print media there are very strict guidelines if one has to rely on anonymous sources. She said that in various cases these sources have their own agenda therefore journalists must be careful in confirming anonymous material by a reliable second source and also see whether the story is important enough to justify use of such source. She said that currently in Pakistan water scarcity, deforestation and environment are important subjects for stories to be investigated. She said journalists could be agent of change and reforms of society especially when it comes to investigative reporting. She said that investigating journalism’s checklist has six important points like idea, reality check, go or no go, plain/outline, report and write/rewrite adding that idea for such a story could be a news as well. She pointed out that professional journalists should keep in mind that who is going to win or lose in the story and who is the victim because reporters have to support the victims and common man who suffer in various cases. She said that when journalists commit a mistake it is always a reflection on them. She agreed with a participant that national interest often could be in conflict with an investigating reporting but as far as US is concerned the government couldn’t ask journalists to do or don’t do this. She added that if the government does it then the papers would be writing that they were being influenced. She shared some ideas for stories as well. For instance, she said, if child is a big problem in community, find a child 5 to 10 years old and show the public how he/she lives. Use this child or group of children to link to the larger issue, she added. Frank Folwell, treasurer national Press Photographers Association said that photojournalists have the same responsibility as a journalist has. He observed that emerging electronic technologies provide new challenges to the integrity of photographic images. He said that they have to be careful in their job. He particularly spoke of a tool of photojournalism – photo shop – as it could land them in trouble if this software is misused. He added that pictures always reflect the subject of story in right perspective. He suggested that photojournalists should be accurate and comprehensive in representation of subjects, resist being manipulated by staged photo opportunity and they should treat all subjects with respect and dignity.

Sindhi Intellectuals Vow to Resist Action to Dislodge Elected Government

admin — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 20:31:41 +0000

Courtesy: daily dawn

Speakers at a dialogue said that even though the PPP had disappointed people, if it was removed through unconstitutional and undemocratic means, the people and Sindh would not accept it. They also said that Asif Ali Zardari was being targeted for being a Sindhi. -
HYDERABAD: Intellectuals, writers and civil society leaders have said that the present government has come into power due to the supreme sacrifice of Benazir Bhutto and only the people have the right to remove the democratically- elected government. They warned that if the current government was removed through pen or unconstitutional means before it completed its tenure, it would be considered as an insult to the mandate of the masses. They said such an unconstitutional and undemocratic action of the undemocratic forces would push Sindh on the path of Bangladesh.

They were speaking at a dialogue organised by the Women Action Forum and “We Journalists” at the press club here on Wednesday.

The topic of the dialogue was “NRO and its effects on the Sindh Politics”. A large number of intellectuals, writers and women attended the dialogue.

Speaking on the occasion, convenor of Sindh Dost Rabita Council, Barrister Zamir Ghumro, said that only the people had the right to change the government. He said central Punjab had always remained in power and usurped all the resources of the country and added that this leadership considered itself insecure in a democratic set-up and was creating hurdles in the democratic process.

If the president was removed at gunpoint or through media trials, this would be considered as an attack on the mandate of the Sindhi people, he said.

Women Action Forum leader Ms Amar Sindhu said that undemocratic forces had ruled the country for the last 60 years and added that these forces loathed a democratic system. She said that the present assemblies in the country came into being due to the supreme sacrifice of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.

She warned that if any attempt was made to remove the present government through undemocratic means, the people of Sindh would not accept such a change. No unelected organisation has a right to remove the democratically -elected government, she said.

The chairman of “We Journalists”, Mr Jafar Memon said that it was an insult to the peoples’ mandate to raise a hue and cry against the elected government by taking refuge behind the NRO. The very survival of Sindh is at stake, he said and added that Asif Ali Zardari was being targeted for being a Sindhi.

Jami Chandio said that when Pervez Musharraf was placed in a tight corner, he tried to protect himself by promulgating NRO. He said if only political cases were withdrawn under the NRO, the situation would have been quite different.

He, however, said that the withdrawal of cases against the murderers of innocent people was a great injustice. No doubt the PPP has disappointed the people, nevertheless if it was removed through unconstitutional and undemocratic means, the people and Sindh would not accept it, he added.

The others who spoke on the occasion included press club president Mahesh Kumar, Javed Kazi, Ms Irfana Mallah, Punhal Sario, Comrade Hussain Bux Thebo and Zafar Rajput advocate.

Zafar Rajput said that a dictator had withdrawn murder and corruption cases just with one stroke of pen. He said it was time for the PPP ministers who were hit by NRO to give sacrifice.

The speakers were of the unanimous opinion that people would not accept removal of the present government through undemocratic and unconstitutional measures. They, however, urged the government to pay attention to the basic problems of the masses.

Friday, 29 Jan, 2010

Membership opens

admin — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 19:09:44 +0000

We needs journalists from south Asia, specially from rest of the Pakistan

Download Membership form

Aman Ittehad – Solidarity Day Celebrated Enthusiastically

admin — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 12:56:42 +0000

Report by ‘We Journalists’

We Journalists, an effective voice of media people, human rights activists, environmentalists and political thinkers, organized a cultural activity on the occasion of Aman Ittehad – Solidarity Day, jointly with CPCS, Women Action Forum (WAF) and Saranga Literary Society on Friday, January 1, 2010 at Hyderabad Press Club. The event with concise introductory speeches, poetry recitation and lyrical music attracted a large number of people ranging from civil society, literature, journalists and teachers to intellectuals to share their little contribution to promote love, peace and harmony in the society.

Iqbal Tareen hailing from Virginia , United States , presided the function, while Jami Chandio of CPCS, Jaffar Memon of We Journalists, Mahesh Kumar President Hyderabad Press Club and Amar Sindhu of WAF also spoke on the occasion.

Ustad Mazhar Ali was invited to perform songs from the poetry of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai, a great Sufi poet, to open the dialogue and cultural event.

In his welcome address, Jaffar Memon told the audience that this programme under the banner of Aman Ittehad is being organized at around 50 locations of different cities and towns of Pakistan– from Khyber to Karachi– to involve the people in large numbers to raise voice together to promote peace and harmony in the society, as increasing fears of terrorism and restlessness have panicked the peace-loving people all over the country.

Memon on the occasion read out the joint statement, saying “as the new decade begins, citizens from across Pakistan will reaffirm their belief in the indivisibility of peace and their commitment to struggle for democratic governance, rule of law, justice, and a life of dignity for all.”

The Solidarity Day, organized under Aman Ittehad– a citizens’ platform connecting trade unions, media, students, lawyers, youth organizations, minority groups, NGOs, academia, and business, Jaffar Memon said will express a resolve to strive for stronger democracy and democratic institutions.

Identifying extreme inequality and disenfranchisement as a cause of extremism, the Solidarity Day will demand that the state provides equal opportunities to all its citizens. It calls for the reform of all state institutions as well as governance regulations and rules pertaining to key sectors of the economy in order to ensure efficiency, equity and accountability, he said.

Aman Ittehad calls for a Social Contract between the state and the citizens based on the 1940 resolution establishing equal rights of all citizens, provinces and nationalities. The social contract must recognize the primacy of ownership of resources at the provincial level as well as the need for their equitable distribution among the federating units. It also calls upon the state and citizens to celebrate diversity promote pluralism and ensure that the function of the state is separated from personal religious belief. In order to reverse the trend of spiraling violence, it also identifies the need to reduce the trust deficit at all levels – between citizens and the state including its institutions; and, also amongst citizens.

Iqbal Tareen, who presently is in Pakistan, appreciated the organizers for the impressive event, which attracted people from different walks of life to sit together on the common understanding just to promote peace. He threw light on the sentiments of terrorism and condemned horrible incidents occurred recently, loss of precious lives and property, ever-increasing uncertainty and urged upon the participants to address this with extending unity among the people like they have come together today on the Aman Ittehad—Solidarity Day.

Tareen said State and Religion are two different things and should be dealt with separately. There is no need of this combination in the society, which is struggling to strengthen democracy. For restoration of peace in Pakistan all the people have to decide how to deal with this phenomenon. He called the nations living in Pakistan with combination like a rainbow and said all the colours have their natural beauty. He said small nations have never tried to breach the national agreements. They always struggled for unanimity, but he said, irony is that certain elements have always pushed the small nations to the wall and in result the people belonging to small nations always felt differently.

Talking about the particular case of Sindh, which is rich in natural resources, agriculture and its more contribution to national exchequer through different resources, Iqbal Tareen said “the people of Sindh should realize why they are not capable to represent their province on “negotiation table”, which decides the destiny of small nations in Pakistan . He emphasized the need to extend collaboration to recognize their right and sit together with the decision-makers of the country. Because, he said, looking to the changing world scenario we should realize the fact that the world nations are going ahead to a placeless society. There will be no borders in future. In this situation peace is the only way out to learn how to live together with national harmony.

Jami Chandio sharing about the events organized in different cities to express solidarity with each other disregard of their association with political ideology, religion and faiths, said terrorists are on rampage in the society, killing innocent people and spoiling peace. To counter this phenomenon, Chandio said, we all should come together, it is our responsibility. For this, he said, Aman Ittehad is broad platform where all the people struggling for restoration of peace should be part of this “movement for peace”.
He said the Solidarity Day will mark the beginning of a citizen struggle for their right to a life of dignity. He calls upon all citizens to join this struggle for peace and a democratic state and society.

He said terrorists in the all forms are in small number. The majority is of those wanting peace. Therefore, he appealed to all the participants to come together and light a candle each to contribute for the return of peace in the society, which presently is under countless threats. He said on this occasion all the people belonging to all four provinces and nations have put their signatures on a New Contract between the provinces.

Mahesh Kumar, President of Hyderabad Press Club expressed thanks to the organizers for choosing venue at Hyderabad Press Club for this august gathering for a cause. He said the participation of saner elements from political ideologies, civil society organizations, literature, human rights activists and journalists is inspiring for the wide majority, who are fighting terrorism and discrimination. He said this platform can be effective, because now the restoration of peace should be on top agenda for all the people of this country.

Amar Sindhu of WAF said we are living in a war-like situation and in this atmosphere talking about the restoration of peace is a great effort. She said the foundations of State in which we live are on the basis of unfairness. So there is a need to redefine this state now. There should be consensus that there would be no discrimination with anybody at any level. There would be no exploitation. In this connection, Sindhu said, this movement for peace is inspiring. Because, she believes that instead of military forces people themselves can restore peace through their mind change and unity.

The second session of poetry recitation to promote peace was also inspiring, attracted wide number to appreciate the poets for their creativity. This mushara was chaired by Taj Joyo, Secretary Sindhi Language Authority (SLA). Ali Dost Ajiz, Hafeez Kumbhar, Iqbal Rind, Irshad Leghari, Saleem Kumbhar, Gulshan Leghari, Abdul Rehman Sial and Qazi Manzar Hayat shared their creative moments with the audience. Ishaque Samejo of Saranga Literary Society conducted the session.

At the last, Ustad Sadiq Faeer and Shafi Faqeer with their musician teams performed songs of sufi poets.

Earlier the wide banner –Social Contract–was displayed for participants to put their comments and signature over it for national consent.

Visit of Arfa Khanum (Indian journalist)

admin — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:27:33 +0000

Indian journalist Arfa Khanum, visits the Karachi press club and meets with journalists of Karachi and Hyderabad.the welcome reception was managed jointly by Karachi Press Club and We Journalists, organization.

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Autonomy before NFC award, demand leaders

admin — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 20:47:44 +0000

HYDERABAD: Leaders of political parties and civil society organisations have rejected the National Finance Commission award formula based only on population and demanded that the issue of provincial autonomy be resolved before announcing the award.

They said that without Sindh getting control over its resources, problems would keep cropping up in the NFC. They were speaking at a consultative workshop on ‘Upcoming NFC award’ organised by ‘We Journalists,’ an organisation of journalists, at the press club here on Sunday.

Former PPP Senator Taj Haider said political leaders and activists should continue to raise issues and make demands in order to get what was their due.

Relying on figures compiled by Sindh’s non-statutory member on the NFC Dr Qiaser Bengali, Mr Haider said that the province had suffered losses of Rs193 billion over the past five years in sales tax on utilities like electricity, gas and telephone and the amount was increasing.

‘We should demand restoration of octroi and zila tax that was abolished through an ordinance by the last Pakistan Muslim League-N government.’ He said that Sindh collected 46 per cent of the country’s taxes.

He expressed the hope that the constitutional reforms committee, headed by Raza Rabbani, would recommend a suitable package. He, however, expressed apprehensions that sales tax might be reintroduced by the federal government in the shape of value added tax, and said that some indications had been made in this regard.

‘We should be aware of such googlies of Murali Dharan and Shane Warne because we can’t trust those who have been robbing us,’ he said.

He said that the Pakistan People’s Party had floated the draft of the18th amendment which specifically addressed the issues of the NFC and Council of Common Interests.

He said that Sindh’s population was 27 to 28 per cent of the country’s population, but it was not taken into consideration.

Barrister Zamir Ghumro gave a detailed presentation on NFC award on the basis of a resolution tabled by Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s Sardar Ahmed in Sindh Assembly in 2003.

He opposed inclusion of provincial taxes in the terms of reference of the NFC award and said that the Article 160 of the Constitution envisaged only vertical distribution between the federal government and provinces. But, he said, the NFC had ignored constitutional provisions by taking up horizontal distribution leading to disputes among provinces.

He said that the terms of multiple criteria, divisible pool and consensus had been devised to rob Sindh of its tax revenue. These terms, he added, had no place in the constitution.

He said that under Article 143 of the Constitution, GST on services was a residual subject of provinces and provinces must start recovering it.

He said that the PML-N government had unlawfully abolished octroi tax, promising to distribute a certain percentage of GST on the basis of recovery from each province. He said that Sindh’s calculation was 46 per cent but it was getting 34 per cent.

He urged democratic forces to jointly oppose NFC proceedings which, according to him, were aimed at overstepping the constitutional mandate and usurping tax and non-tax resources of smaller provinces in the name of consensus.

He said that the Sindh Assembly’s resolution of 2003 called upon the federal government to maintain separate accounts of taxes of each province but it had a single account of each tax.

He predicted that on the basis of conservative estimates of this year’s tax revenue, Sindh would lose more than Rs10,000 billion over five years if the NFC award on the basis of horizontal distribution and multiple criteria was accepted by the Sindh government.

Awami Tehrik chief Rasool Bux Palijo called for fixing priorities regardless of what Sindh was getting in the NFC award. He said: ‘You may take these paisas but what about the question of ownership of resources.’

Sindh Taraqi Pasand Party leader Dr Qadir Magsi raised the issue of provincial autonomy and control over resources of Sindh. He said that any demand on the basis of constitution which had not been able to protect itself would be an exercise in futility.

He said that the federal finance minister himself had claimed a recovery of Rs2000 billion from Sindh, the amount collected after corruption and maladministration.

He emphasised the need for studying the case of Sindh from new angles. He termed the present exercise in the NFC as a photo session.

The Sindh Democratic Forum’s Abrar Kazi said that resources of the province were being transferred to other provinces.

Summing up the discussion, Sindh United Party’s Jalal Mehmood Shah said that any NFC award based on only population stood rejected. He said that provinces should get GST on services and the award formula should be based on 70:30 ratio.

He criticised President Asif Zardari’s decision to include royalty on oil and gas in the award and said that it was an issue pertaining to the CCI. He said that NFC proceedings were initiated to skip the question of provincial autonomy.

Shah Mohammad Shah, SNF leader Ayub Shar, Amir Bhambhro of Sindh National Party, Nazeer Memon, Javed Qazi, Amar Sindhu, Karamat Ali and others also took part in the discussion.

Objectives

admin — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 14:14:27 +0000

Peace and Understanding; Progress and Development; Democracy and Human Rights; Women Empowerment and gender Equality; Dignity, Credibility and Responsibility of Media; Quality and Creativity in Media Productions; Increase professional potentials; Cultural Heritage and its Transmission; Democratisation of Media and Communications,welfare of oppressed and poor journalists,and protect journalists from the different types of access are among its major objectives.