South Asia’s Free Media Association held its first parliamentary meeting in Islamabad on Sunday . Delegations from Pakistan and five other South Asian countries are participating in the conference. Nepal was on the top of the agenda and its human rights situation was severely criticized. Eleven MPs were held up in Kathmandu airport and were not allowed to fly to Islamabad. Amongst those who sent their messages in SAFMA’s meeting included Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Bangladesh’s President Iajuddin Ahmed and Bangladesh’s Leader of the Opposition Sheikh Hasina. The former prime minister of Bangladesh in her message said powerful democratic establishments are hindered by the ruling parties in South Asia.
