Experts on electoral and governance urged journalists to highlight election laws and code of conduct for the candidates that would help ensure transparency and impartiality in the public and private institutions.
They expressed their views at a three-day training workshop for journalists on civic education, election laws, administrative affairs and role of political parties that was held under the aegis of Individualland, a research consulting and advocacy firm in collaboration with Tabeer-Consolidating Democracy in Pakistan. Journalists from print and electronic media participated in the workshop that concluded, here on Sunday.
On the first day of the training workshop, the participants were given tips on reporting on politics and political parties, monitoring the performance of political parties. On second day lecture on the 'Media role in efficient functioning of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)' was held. Key points of the Election Act 2017 and Role of Media to Sensitize Citizens regarding Election Laws were also shared with participants.
Similarly, on the third day, experts on governance delivered speeches on Civic Education, Good Governance and their elements, Role of Local Government, Concept of Citizenship, Local Governance and Accountability and Identifying Civic Indicators.
Khurram Malik from Tabeer suggested that media should thoroughly delineate manifestos released by political parties, so that the citizens may get awareness of the roadmap that the party is going to follow if elected to form the government.
Shabir Ahmad, an elections said that new Elections Act has a number of distinguished features as compared to the previous laws; however, he emphasised that it is the media's responsibility to discuss these features in their elections related reporting.
Malik Masood from the Centre for Governance and Public Accountability (CGPA) said in a session on Civic Education and Good Governance that both civic education and good governance are inter-related therefore, the media needs to educate citizens for civility for better governance.
Saghir Ahmed Naqash and Mushoud Ali facilitated the training on behalf of Individualland Pakistan. The organization has already organized similar trainings in Lahore, Islamabad, Karachi and Quetta.
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