Summary:
Experts at the 11th Ayaz Melo decried a significant erosion of democratic principles and media freedom in the country. Speakers, including Wusatullah Khan and Munizae Jahangir, highlighted the dominance of powerful elites and “controlled press, politics, and democracy,” urging for public empowerment to reclaim independence and progress.
Experts Discuss the State of Governance at Ayaz Melo
The discussion of controlled press, politics, and democracy took center stage on Saturday at the 11th Ayaz Melo in Hyderabad. Journalists and columnists at a session titled ‘Saang siyasat ja’ (Deceptive moves of politics) profoundly analyzed the national political landscape.
Journalist Wusatullah Khan remarked that the country operates “like a laboratory,” noting its capture by powerful elites whose removal is essential for progress. Columnist Javed Qazi further asserted the existence of a hybrid system where real power rests with “mighty ones,” concluding, “Now we have controlled politics, controlled democracy and controlled journalism.” Munizae Jahangir highlighted the enduring struggle for democratic values, noting political and institutional failures despite long battles.
The Landscape of Controlled Politics and Journalism
Speakers voiced deep concerns over current suppressions. Farnood Alam described democracy and politics as “finished after 2018,” a period lacking past popular movements. Senior journalist Ghazi Salahuddin, in a separate human rights session, observed democracy being “stifled through [constitutional] tweaks,” and stated press freedom, once belonging to the masses, has been “snatched.” For more details on this topic, visit SindhNews.com.
The consensus from these sessions underlined a significant erosion of traditional democratic tenets and media independence. Experts signaled a concerning shift in the nation’s governance, urging collective action for restoring genuine autonomy.