RMNP Sadiq Press Freedom Prize Awarded Posthumously to Journalist Mazhar Rasheed

Mubarakpur (Rural Pakistan) The Rural Media Network Pakistan (RMNP) presented its 2019 Sadiq Press Freedom Award category (B) supported by Prince Bahawal Abbas Khan Abbasi, to the son of late  journalist Malik Mazhar Rasheed Misson at a ceremony held at  Iqra Public High School Mubarakpur town  in  Bahawalpur district , Punjab province.

“The recognition of Mr Misson is a symbol of the struggle for the media freedom and promotion of regional journalism  in rural Pakistan ,” RMNP President Ehsan Ahmed Sehar said in an address to assembled journalists  of seven rural and  semi-rural  press clubs of  Samasatta, MusafirKhana, AhmedpurEast, Mubarakpur, Uchsharif, Chanigoth and Hatehji  besides  local dignitaries.

48 year-old Malik Mazhar Rasheed Misson was based in Mubarakpur town , Bahawalpur district of South Punjab.He passed away in Saudi Arabia on 20th June 2019.He leaves behind a widow, two daughters and a son.

Mr Misson was associated with GEO News and the Jang Newspaper Group and had over 30 years’ experience in journalism. He was also founding   president of the Mubarakpur Press Club and Coordinator RMNP. First of all he started the celebrations of World Press Freedom Day(WPFD) in rural Pakistan on 3rd May 2002 and organised three training sessions and several seminars for both male and female journalists in his backward town.

Leading journalists  Iftikhar Ahmed Alvi, Muhammad Akmal Sheikh,Muhammad Suleman Farooqi,Syed TanveerulHassan Bukhari,Qalandar Hussein Syed, Hameedullah Khan Aziz,Rafique Safdar Rajput,Rao Muhammad Farooq, Chaudhry Muhammad Akram,Azhar Ali Danish, local leaders Rao Muhammad Sadiq, Makhdoom Syed Barat Hussein,Professor Dr Rana Muhammad Shehzad of Media Studies Department Islamia University Bahawalpur,Deputy Director Information Nouman Masood Khan and Senior Deputy Director Information department Bahawalpur Nasar Hameed paid rich tributes to late journalist Mazhar Raheed Mission for his 30 years long  journalistic services and termed him a torch bearer of press freedom in remote areas of South Punjab.

Recognising Mr Misson’s struggle for the betterment of rural journalists and dedication to the profession, an award of PKR 10,000 was presented on Friday 12th July to his son Malik MueedurRaheed Misson in a ceremony organised by the Rural Media Network Pakistan (RMNP) in collaboration with Private Schools Association (PEF Partners).

Pakistan is ranked 142 out of 180 countries in this year’s World Press Freedom Index. “There is almost restricted space for freedom of expression in the country, which provides a free playing field for law enforcement authorities, RMNP President Ehsan Ahmed Sehar said. “Despite present incumbent government assurances, “Protection of Journalists Bill” has not been tabled in Parliament for approval so far ,”Mr Sehar  further stated.

The RMNP Sadiq Press Freedom Award was founded in 2005   aims to recognise the courage and commitment of journalists and media organisations and to focus national and international attention towards the state of media freedom in Pakistan. For more information visit http://www.ruralmedianetworkpk.org.

Source: Nawa-I-AhmedpurSharqia/RMNP