Senate Chairman Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani Hosts Luncheon for Parliamentary Reporters, Emphasizes Media’s Role in Democracy<\/p>\n
The Chairman of the Senate, Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, hosted a distinguished luncheon in honor of the Parliamentary Reporters Association (PRA) members, during which he highlighted the vital role of the media in strengthening parliamentary democracy and pledged support for journalists’ rights. The event fostered discussions on collaborative efforts to promote responsible journalism, combat misinformation, and address challenges faced by media professionals in Pakistan.<\/p>\n
In his address, Gilani underscored the importance of a transparent Parliament and a free press as core pillars of democracy. He commended journalists for their dedication, integrity, and the crucial function they serve in![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.peakpoint.pk\/en\/media\/IMG-20250625-WA0018-300x104.jpg\")
safeguarding the public\u2019s right to information. He noted that modern tools and technologies have transformed media landscapes, making responsible journalism more essential than ever amidst the challenges of fake news and digital misinformation that threaten public trust.<\/p>\n
Drawing from his own extensive political career, Gilani shared that he has always prioritized the promotion of journalism and the welfare of media professionals. With a family history rooted in political service spanning over 450 years, he recalled his efforts to support the media during his tenure as Prime Minister, Speaker of the National Assembly, and now as Chairman Senate. He paid tribute to the founding leaders of his party, particularly Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, for their contributions to Pakistan\u2019s constitutional development and democratic resilience.<\/p>\n
The Chairman also emphasized the Senate\u2019s commitment to legislating for the protection of journalists\u2019 rights and expressed optimism that parliamentary reporters will continue delivering accurate, fact-based information to the public. He reaffirmed his support for addressing issues faced by media professionals and highlighted his role in establishing the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers Conference, a significant milestone for Pakistan’s parliamentary diplomacy. Gilani concluded his remarks by acknowledging influential mentors in journalism who inspired his own career.<\/p>\n
During the event, Gilani responded to questions raised by PRA members, demonstrating his openness to dialogue and cooperation. The occasion was further marked by commendations from Mian Khurram Rasool, the Senate\u2019s Media Advisor, who lauded Gilani\u2019s efforts to promote democracy and free press. Rasool reflected on the sacrifices made for Pakistan\u2019s independence and democratic progress.<\/p>\n
Senior journalist and PRA founding member Hafiz Tahir Khalil expressed hope that such engagements would become an annual fixture, emphasizing the shared responsibility of countering misinformation. Khalil also highlighted the potential benefits of adopting technological innovations such as AI to modernize parliamentary workflows and improve communication.<\/p>\n
PRA President Usman Khan conveyed gratitude toward the Senate leadership for its ongoing support, raising concerns about financial hardships faced by journalists and proposing the creation of an endowment fund to assist media workers. He also advocated for integrating PRA\u2019s digital platforms with the Senate\u2019s website and implementing capacity-building initiatives via the Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (PIPS) to enhance the professionalism of PRA members.<\/p>\n
Naveed Akbar, PRA Secretary, reaffirmed the close link between journalism and democracy, expressing hope that all issues raised would be addressed swiftly. He acknowledged the Senate\u2019s collaborative support in strengthening the media landscape.<\/p>\n
Gilani concluded the gathering by reaffirming his dedication to fostering a culture of truth, professionalism, and ethical journalism. He expressed confidence that collaborative efforts between the Senate and PRA will pave the way for an empowered, informed nation committed to democratic principles. The luncheon was attended by senior officials, including Deputy Chairman Senate Syed Abdullah Khan and Senate Secretary Syed Hasnain Haider, alongside a large contingent of PRA members from across the country.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Senate Chairman Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani Hosts Luncheon for Parliamentary Reporters, Emphasizes Media’s Role in Democracy The Chairman of the Senate, Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, hosted a distinguished luncheon in honor of the Parliamentary Reporters Association (PRA) members, during which he highlighted the vital role of the media in strengthening parliamentary democracy and pledged support …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":3509,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[94],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3508","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pakistan"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.peakpoint.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3508","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.peakpoint.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.peakpoint.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.peakpoint.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.peakpoint.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3508"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.peakpoint.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3508\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3513,"href":"https:\/\/www.peakpoint.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3508\/revisions\/3513"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.peakpoint.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3509"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.peakpoint.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3508"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.peakpoint.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3508"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.peakpoint.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3508"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}