Government denies state TV will be used against judiciary | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

Government denies state TV will be used against judiciary

ISLAMABAD: A spokesman of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has strongly rejected contents of a news item published in dailies “The News” and “Jang” on October 17, 2012, alleging that government TV will be used to ridicule the judiciary.

The spokesman said that the government and its institutions respect the judiciary as an important pillar of the State and holds the judiciary in high esteem. The contents of the news item itself clearly indicate that the story is based on conjectures and speculations without any credible information available to the reporter.

This is a classic instance of an attempt to create misgivings among pillars of the State. This is highly unfortunate and cannot be accepted under any professional norms, the Spokesman said. He further said, the reporter has himself accepted this fact but even then considered it worthy to publish the story in violation of journalistic norms.

The main theme of the story does not relate to the PTV and linking the story to imaginary action on part of PTV is not in good taste. The government rejects this kind of journalism in the name of freedom of expression and expects the Jang/News Group to clarify its position and inform the readers that the story was uncalled for.

Ahmad Noorani adds: Whenever The News breaks any mega corruption scandal of PPP government or unearths any of its conspiracies of launching attacks and offensives against the superior judiciary, such spin masters of government media team, like the spokesman who issued this clarification, always attack the messenger by using substandard language to please their political masters.

However ‘The News’ stories regarding corruption of top constitutional office holders of PPP government and regarding conspiracies against judiciary have always turned out to be true.

This can be proved if required any time. Just when the spokesman was issuing this denial PPP senator and confidant of top PPP leaders- Faisal Raza Abidi was saying in the Senate that it was his right to use the PTV against the judiciary.

The conspiracy was thus confirmed by Mr Abidi. It would be better if the spokesman first checks with the PPP leaders before issuing such denials which backfire in no time.

The News