Karachi: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi Ameer Monem Zafar Khan has highlighted the challenges posed to the media's freedom and said that attempts to clump the freedom of the media were totally unacceptable.The JI stalwart was expressing these views while addressing a reception in the honor of the Federal Executive Council of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ). The reception was held by the JI at the Karachi Press Club (KPC). PFUJ President Afzal Butt, KUJ President Tahir Hassan and JI Karachi Spokesperson Zahid Askari also addressed the reception.Speaking on the occasion, Monem Zafar said that journalism is duly dubbed as the fourth pillar of the state. However, he said, the fourth pillar of the state was facing severe threats to its existence and freedom. He highlighted that targeting journalists in Peshawar, Balochistan, interior areas of Sindh and other parts of the country became a matter of routine.He further said that during the past three months a journalist - Latif Baloch was killed during an attack on his house in Balochistan, another journalist Syed Muhammad Shah was also killed during an attack on his house.Several others were abducted, tortured, their offices were raided and they were threatened, he said, adding that all those actions were taken to blackmail journalists, to suppress their voices, and to clamp the freedom of the media.He further said that the state's silence over the attempts to mute the media were really heart wrenching. He added that filing false cases against journalists, declaring them blackmailers, abducting them and in several cases killing them were the worst kind of violation of the law, the constitution and the human rights.The JI leader further said that the party had always stood with the media's rights and freedom. We consider journalists as an asset of the state, it's an obligation for the state to ensure the safety of their lives, their ability to express their opinion and their freedom, he said. On the occasion, he lambasted all the parties who co ntributed in PECA Act in one way or another. He added that a joint struggle by journalists' fraternity for freedom of the media was need of the hour and the JI would support the fraternity in any such struggle.Talking about the local issues, he said the mega city - Karachi contributes Rs3,256 billion to the national exchequer but unfortunately it faces acute shortage of electricity, water supply, transport, education, health and cleanliness services. He held the ruling parties responsible for the injustice to Karachi.On the occasion, he also highlighted the JI's struggle against the K-Electric, the Independent Power Producers, encroachments, and china cutting.He further said that the JI restored over 150 parks in its nine towns, besides introducing roadside jungles, urban forests, open air gyms and other facilities. The JI also installed thousands of street lights, uplifted schools, streets, roads, and health units, he said.PFUJ President Afzal Butt in his address acknowledged the role of the JI for K arachi, particularly the party's activism against the IPPs that resulted in relief for not only the mega city but the entire country.He also highlighted the plight of journalists and media workers and said that the PFUJ has decided to launch a decisive campaign in this regard. He said that the journalists fraternity would be holding sit-in outside assemblies for their demands, including the rise in salaries.Tahir Hassan Khan in his address also praised the JI's role for the local government. He expressed his hope that the JI would transform Karachi into a model city, despite limited resources and powers.JI Karachi Secretary Information told the journalist body that the forum would provide them an opportunity to have a clear and transparent glance over the city - something totally opposite to what was propagated by the governmental mouthpieces. He also expressed his disapproval over the dismal situation of the once city of lights.