LAHORE: Punjab Governor Malik Rafique Rajwana has said though the right to freedom of expressionis a basicright of every individual and society, all individuals, societies and countries must respect the freedom and emotions of others in the global world.

`Freedom of expression enables quality of governance and gives citizens an opportunity to voice their views,` he was speaking at a three-day international conference on `Freedom of Expression: Global Politics of Emotions` organized by the Punjab University Institute ofCommunication Studies here on Monday.

The governor asl(ed the media not to promote conflicts in pursuance of commercial interests.

He also emphasized on a careful use of the right to freedom of expression in this era of technological advancement for peaceful local and global coexistence respecting members of all religious and ethnic communities of the world.

Punjab University ViceChancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran said the media should play a responsible role urging the youth to become ambassadors of peace.

Dr Christian Clifford of the USA said in today`s world freedom ofexpression was the philosophy of language that included fear and humiliation and technology had made it worst. `We can make new dimensions in this contemporary and multicultural world with freedom of expression,` he said.

Dr Elizabeth Eidi of Norway said the freedom of expression was important for free flow of information and conversation.

She said the right to respect others and the right of listen to others were very important in the society.

The increased access to social media made complex this freedom but we should use it with more care, she added.

UMT Rector Dr Hasan SohaibMurad said the freedom of expression was rooted in the Western liberal traditions because their line of thinl(ing was secular.

`There is also religious domain of this freedom which told people about the limits of this freedom, he said adding the right of freedom of expression was also negatively used for power and political interests.

Javed Jabbar, Ayesha Leghari, Dr MA Siddiqui, Bushra Rahman, Dr Abida Eijaz, Dr Noshina Saleem and Dr Abida Aijaz also spoke.

A question answer session was also held. Some 22 research papers were presented on Monday.