accused the goverments of India, Pakistan and Nepal of their alleged
interference in the internal affairs of Each other. The representatives of
Saarc countries who assembled in Colombo, Srilanka , have aired their
resentment over the sorry state of affairs prevailing in these countries.
Besides, the representatives comprising mostly of Freelance journalists,
the participants have also portrayed the gross violation of human rights in
these countries. The opening cermony of the conference was performed by the
president of SRI LANKA while the 2nd session was opened by Information
Minister of Sri Lanka. The conference was attened by Bangladesh, Sri Lanka,
India, Pakistan, Nepal, Maldives and other countries. 21 representatives
from these countries were invited to attened the conference.
Representatives from Singapore and Generat Sectary of IFJ International
Federation of Journalists Mr Aiden White, also attened the conference.
Speaking on the occasion, President of PFJA Pakistan Freelance Journalists
Association, Iqbal Yousafi accused india of harassing visiting journalists
after issuing them visa. In support of his contention, he qouted the arrest
of a Pakistani Journalist & editor of a monthly magazine, Muhammad Masood
Azhar, who was physically tortured after arrest. The journalist is still
missing. He said that this is the worst example in the diplomatic history
of the world that valid visa & passport holder was badly torture & is
missing but Indian administration is silent. Yousafi pointed out that
Indian Journalists visiting Pakistan have never even have been questioned,
leave alone of being physically tortured.
He further stressed that if any journalist's credentials seems doubtful
Indian Embassy should not issue him a visa. To net the journalists like
this after issuing them visa is the Wrost kind of diplomatic gagsterism.
On Yousafi's protest, the Indian Journalists attending the conference
assured to take up the matter with their goverment. The speech of Pakistani
representative was hailed and the demand was fully supported by the
representative of Saarc countries attending the conference continued for 5
days in Colombe. During the coference, human rights, regional problems and
affect of local conditions on journalism were discussed by intellectuals of
Sri Lanka.
