Srinagar, May 04 (KMS): On the World Press Day, senior Kashmiri Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani has said that the so-called freedom of press is non-existent in occupied Kashmir.

Syed Ali Gilani in a statement issued in Srinagar said that the freedom of media was soul of democracy but there were great restrictions in writing or portraying an event, adding that the media persons were facing dangers while performing their duties in the occupied territory.
 
The Hurriyet leader maintained that working conditions of journalist fraternity were pathetic as every journalist's activity was screened. He further said, “A journalist who dares to speak or write a truthful account of an event, he/she is harassed by different Indian agencies.”

Syed Ali Gilani hailed the role of journalists who he said were performing their professional duties despite all odds in the held valley. Referring to the ban imposed on airing of Pakistan based television channels, he said that even local channel owners and their field reporters were being harassed by different agencies for portraying Indian state-run terrorism.

The Hurriyet leader appealed to the international community to take notice of the problems and dangers confronting journalists in the occupied territory.